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Abbott’s Comments 

H 


The Revelation of Jesus Christ. 


January, 1897. 



13 

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Copyrighted, 1897, 

BY 

J. H. ABBOTT. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 


qo-~l £2. iff 


PREFACE. 


Jesus the Christ now uncovers the signs sent by John, and makes this 
prophecy plain. Here are shown the important events of 1897, an d the 
succeeding years. Turkey and Mohammedanism is destroyed. The 
“terrible day of the Lord” is almost upon us. A new kingdom of 
Israel is to be established in Palestine. The present age of Transfor- 
mation is to be succeeded by the millennium. The Tree of Life, Baby- 
lon, the Beast, and many other important matters shown. 

Revelation is naturally divided into three parts : 

Part 1. Embraces the first three chapters, and relates to the 
church, to whom the prophecy is sent. 

Part 2. Embraces chapters four to eleven inclusive, and shows, in 
historic order, God’s purposes determined upon the earth. The open- 
ing of the Seven Seals. 

Part 3. Embraces the remainder of the book. Here are presented 
in graphic word pictures the great truths evolved in this age of Trans- 
formation, closing with those brighter scenes that shall take their 
place. 

The Bible text is given herein, in heavy faced type. 

Joshua H. Abbott, 
Author of the Philosophy of Existence. 

Cleveland, O., November 30th, 1896. 







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ABBOTT’S COMMENTS 

ON 

The Revelation of Jesus Christ. 


CHAPTER I. 

1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which hod gave 
unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must 
shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it hy 
his angel unto his servant John: 

2 . Who hare record of the word of God, and of 
the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that 
he saw. 

3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear 
the words of this prophecy, and keep those things 
that are written therein : for the time is at hand. 

1. This crowning book of the Bible has generally been miscalled, 
“The Revelation of St. John;” and that too, in spite of the express 
declaration of the text itself. But it is Jesus Christ, and not John, who 
shews that which is herein revealed unto His (Jesus’) servants. John’s 
whole work, as one of Christ’s servants, was to record this word of 
God (v. 2), as it was sent to him in the signs given. Nor did Jesus 
Christ, in any considerable measure, shew the truths herein set forth 
to John or to His servants of John’s day and generation. But He is 
now, at this day, shewing them to us, through the medium of the Holy 
Spirit, and because they are being shown to us, we know that “ they 
must shortly come to pass.” To him who reads these words with his 
understanding, and not merely with his lips ; and hears with his mental 
comprehension what the prophecy proclaims, and keeps those things 
told, in belief ; to him is blessing, “ for the time is at hand” (v. 3). 

4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: 
Grace he unto you, and peace, from him which is, and 
which was, and which is to come; and from the seven 
Spirits w hich are before his throne. 

2. This prophecy, soon to be fulfilled ; this exposition of God’s 
dealings with this world; this revelation of His purposes to us- ward, 
is from God, “which is, and which was, and which is to come ; and 
from the Seven Spirits which are before His throne ; and from Jesus 
Christ ” (v. 4, 5). From the Trinity we have this revelation, but 
Christ, the Savior, shews it unto us. In this Trinity is embraced all 

5 


6 


that is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty (v. 8). In God the 
Father, enthroned in that invisible realm, which is alike the source and 
end of all existence, the Alpha and Omega, we have the will enthroned 
at the center, which all worship, and which rules over all, and which 
the fourth chapter will more fully present to us. In Jesus Christ, the 
Son of God, we have God dwelling among us in the body ; God’s im- 
age in substance ; the form of God. Phil. 2 : 6. In the Seven Spirits 
of God we have the vital energy that gives life and force to all created 
things, and by their action brings to light God’s truth, and makes 
manifest his works. 

THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD. 

3. The Seven Spirits of God are mentioned four times in Revela- 
tions. Rev. 1 : 4; 3 : 1; 4 : 5; 5 : 6. As the seven lamps before God’s 
throne in heaven (Rev. 4: 5), they were symbolized in the seven 
lamped Golden Candlestick before the altar in the Jewish temple. 
Ex. 25: 31-40; 37: 17-24; Zech. 4: 2; Rev. 1: 12. They are called 
seven eyes in Zechariah. Zech. 3 : 9, 4 : 10. They are symbolized by 
the Seven Priests and other sevens at the overthrow of Jericho. Jos. 
6 : 3-4. We have them expressed to us in the seven days of the week, 
which perpetually commemorate them : in the seven tones of music, 
do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; in the seven colors of the rainbow, red, orange, 
yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet ; in the seven geometrical figures ; 
and in numerous other ways. 

4. The work of the Seven Spirits of God is revealed to us, and 
their several characters expressed by their creative work, as shown in 
the first and second chapters of Genesis. From a study of this we can 
name them, — Motion, Division, Aggregation, Eimitation, Affinity, 
Touch and Rest. Each is expressed by a day of creation. Each day 
of creation brings to light, in the work which its governing spirit does, 
one of these Spirits of God. They are, also, the seven angels (Rev. 
1: 20) of the seven churches in this chapter ; the power by which Christ 
opens the Seven Seals ; the motive force of the Seven Trumpets, Seven 
Thunders, Seven East Plagues. A knowledge of them is a key to 
unlock mystery, interpret the Bible, and explain all knowledge possi- 
ble to the universe ; for they are the lamps of God. Nothing can be hid 
where their light shines. All things may be seen with these eyes. They 
lead into all truth. Jno. 16: 13. 

5. The co-existence of these Seven Spirits, and the order of their 
sovereignty,. results in a certain method of operation which we find is 
the law for the whole universe ; for each star, each race of beings and 
each individual. This one method of operation is the one great law of 
God which governs in the material realm, the organic and the spiritual ; 
and “Verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one 
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled.’’ This is 
the law which Christ came, not to destroy but to fulfill (Matt. 5:17, 18); 
to make full and complete. This law, or method of operation, is a 
procession of the Seven Spirits, in sovereignty over or through the 
thing or individual considered ; each one in turn being king, while all 
the others are present to serve. In other words, each and every thing 


7 


begins its existence under control of Motion ; then is dominated by 
the Spirit of Division ; next by the Spirit of Aggregation, by which 
it grows ; then it is limited, reaching the full measure ot its powers, 
when it reproduces or repeats itself ; after which it becomes subject to 
the Spirit of Affinity, by which it bends everything it can to the ac- 
complishment of its chosen purpose ; then under the mastery of Tpuch 
it gathers experience and stores knowledge ; finally the end is reached 
in Rest, an established ‘ and final condition, or else death. This 
method, in the physical world, carries matter from the state of gas into 
that of liquid, and the liquid into the solid. In the organic realm it 
a ggregates the cell into an organic being, obtaining growth ; then its 
life flows into other beings until a sea of animal or vegetable life re- 
sults, after which the race and individual alike, become fixed and im- 
movable. The whole career of any thing, under the sway of this 
universal law of God, is a flowing forth, in the beginning from the 
center towards the periphery, or outward limit of its being; and then, 
after a period of revolution in its periphery or orbit, about the center, 
there follows a return from the periphery to the center. The first half 
of life is an outward expression, under the sway of a centrifugal force ; 
the last half an inward development under a centripetal force ; the 
ages of every existence being seven. All the revelations made in this 
book of Jesus Christ are strictly after this method. Each thing revealed 
has its seven ages; and each age is governed by that spirit of God 
which is the appointed sovereign thereof. 


5. And from Jesus Christ, who Is the faithful 
witness, and the hrstbegotten of the dead, and the 
prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved 
us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

G. And hath made us kings ami priests unto God 
and his Father; to him he glory and dominion for 
ever and ever. Amen. 

7. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye 
shall see him, and they also which pierced him : and 
all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. 
Even so, Amen. 

8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the 
ending, saith the Uord, which is, and which was, and 
which is to come, the Almighty. 

6. Here we have presented the blessed Savior who has washed us 
clean from sin, in his own blood. Who that reads this seventh verse 
can doubt the second return of Christ to the earth, or that that return 
shall be any less a return in visible form than was his first life on earth. 
Acts i : ii. He is moreover called here, the “ Prince of the kings of 
the earth,” not of heaven, or of the spirit world. And not only hath he 
“ made us kings and priests unto God,” but “we shall reign on the 
earth.” Rev. 5 : 10. The temporal power of Christ on earth is here 
assured, and we shall further find it expressed in these Revelations. 


8 


9. I John, who also am your brother, and compan- 
ion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience 
of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patinos, 
for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus 
Christ. 

10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and 
heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. 

7. John was in the isle of Patmos, located in the Grecian Archi- 
pelago, north of the Mediterranean sea, and off the coast from Ephesus, 
when these revelations were committed to his keeping. He “ was in 
the Spirit.” The external world of sense, all outside of his own body 
was shut out from John’s consciousness. His soul entered into that 
realm within, where thought is, and where the still small voice of God 
is heard, where all things have their origin, and to which all things 
minister. The material world was all shut out from his vision, and his 
physical eyes saw nothing of these revelations. It was a state of 
trance, similar to St. Peter’s. Acts 10 : 10-20. He heard a voice be- 
hind him. He heard a sound before he saw anything. Out of the 
darkness of the inner world came “ a great voice, as of a trumpet.” It 
was a sound too pronounced to be ascribed to fancy. It pealed forth 
like a proclamation issued by rightful authority. 

11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and 
the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and 
send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; 
unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, 
and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Phila- 
delphia, and unto Laodicea. 

8. The revelation given by God to Jesus through His Seven 
Spirits was sent by the messenger John to the seven typical churches 
of Asia, on the main land opposite Patmos, over which John was 
practically the bishop at this time. ‘'Unto Ephesus,” the nearest ; 
“and unto Symrna,” the next northward; “unto Pergamos” again 
north of Smyrna; then, turning about, on the fourth, “Thyatira” 
southeast of Pergamos ; and continuing southeast “ unto Sardis, and 
unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea,” completing the ellipse, or 
elongated circle, in Laodicea. In the geographical position of these 
places we have the great law T of the procession of the seven spirits 
graphically expressed. From “ do ” (Ephesus) to “ re” (Smyrna) we 
have one full tone, from “ re ” to “ mi ” (Pergamos) we have another 
full tone, but from “ mi ” to “ fa ” (Thyatira) we turned back on the 
return of the circle of existence, and so get but a half tone; from “fa ” 
to “ sol” (Sardis), again, we have a full tone, likewise from “ sol ” to 
“ la” (Philadelphia), and, also, from “ la ” to “ si ” (Laodicea) we have 
full tones ; when again turning back we have but half a note between 
“ si ” (Laodicea) and “ do ” (Ephesus). The life of the church, the 
body of Christians on earth is fully set forth in these seven early types. 
In them is written in symbolism, the whole history of the church on 
earth ; each individual church expressing one of the seven periods of 
church history, and setting forth the truth which it has brought forth, 


9 


a product of the sovereignty of one of the Seven Spirits of God. The 
character ot each is colored by the age within which it was developed. 
Together they sing the whole song of Christianity, and in them is the 
history of the church finished. 

12 . And I turned to see the voice that spake with 
me. And being- turned, I saw seven golden candle- 
sticks ; 

111 . And in the midst of the seven candlesticks 
one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment 
down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a 
golden girdle. 

14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, 
as white as snow; and his eyes were as a dame of lire; 

15. And his feet like unto line brass, as if they 
burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of 
many waters. 

10. And he had in his right hand seven stars: 
and out of his mouth went a twoedged sword: and his 
countenance was as the sun sliineth in his strength. 

17. And when 1 saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. 
And he laid his right hand upon sue, saying unto me, 
Fear not; I am the first and the last: 

18. I am he that iivetli, and was dead; and, be- 
hold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the 
keys of hell and of death. 

10. Write the things which thou hast seen, and 
the things which are, and the things which shall be 
hereafter; 

20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou 
sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candle- 
sticks. The* seven stars are the angels of the seven 
churches ; and the seven candlesticks which thou 
sawest are the seveai churches. 

* 

9. When John had turned himself, taken his eyes from looking 
out and looked backward into the inner self, he beheld seven golden 
candlesticks. These represent the sevenfold church, or periods 
of its duration in this present age on earth (v. 20). The “ seven stars ” 
are the Seven Spirits of God which rule the Seven Churches, for these 
are the possession of Christ (Rev. 5: 6), who stands in the midst of the 
church, which has been gathered about Him and His name. 

10. Christ, “ the son of man,” is the 4 ‘ first.” Before anything 
else was He was. Jno. 17: 5 ; Col. 1:17. He is the beginning of creation 
(Rev. 3: 14); and in Him creation ends, for He is the “ last,” v. 5, 1 1, 17. 
Upon each follower and true disciple He lays His hand and says, 

Fear not,” “ I am He that liveth, and was dead ; and, behold, I am 
alive for ever more.” You see He is surely coming back. And because 
He lives we shall live also. Jno. 14: 19; 1. Cor. 15: 20-22. About Him 
is the “flame of fire ” that purgeth from all earth, consuming the dross. 


IO 


His voice is “ as the sound of many waters,” refreshing and life-giving. 
And He is clothed in the sun of righteousness. “ Out of His mouth 
went a sharp two-edged sword.” This represents the two forces of 
God, the centrifugal and centripetal. Christ has power to cut both 
ways. 


CHAPTER II. 

1. Unto the angel of the cliurcli of Ephesus write; 
These things saitli he that holdetli the seven stars in 
his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven 
goltlen candlesticks; 

2 . I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy pa- 
tience, and how thou canst not hear them which are 
evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are 
apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 

3 . And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my 
name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 

4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, be- 
cause thou hast left thy first love. 

5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fall- 
en, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will 
come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candle- 
stick out of his place, except thou repent. 

6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of 
the Nicolaitans, which S also hate. 

7 . He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcom- 
etli will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the 
midst of the paradise of Hod. 

i. Ephesus represents the earliest, or Apostolic Church. Refer- 
ence is made to the apostles in v. 2. The apostles were recognized as 
the trustees of Christ’s work on earth, the repositories of the truths 
which had fallen from His lips while He trod the earth. They were 
personal witnesses of His divine claims, and successors of his author- 
ity. It was a church of works and labors abundant. The apostles and 
their co-laborers spread the gospel news throughout the Roman em- 
pire, and made Christ known to the civilized world of that time. The 
Spirit of Motion was in their church, and the world was turned upside 
down (Acts 17 : 6) by their teachings. They looked to Jerusalem, and 
later, probably, to Antioch as the capital of their faith. Acts 15:2. 

This period was not without its blemishes (v. 4). Then, as now, 
some wished to receive the gifts of heaven and keep, also, the treas- 
ures of this world. Acts 4:31 to 5 : 11. There were those who left 
their first love. 

The great problem of the Christian then, as for so many now, was 
how to get something to eat, in spite of Christ’s assurance of provision, 
and the fact of those who had all things common having enough. They 


I 


had separated themselves from the world and had from it no help in 
getting food. To the faithful, then, came with force the promise, 
“ To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.” 

8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna 
write; These things saitli the first and the last, which 
was dead, and is alive; 

9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and pov- 
erty, (hut thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of 
them which say they are Jews, and are not, hut are 
the synagogue of Satan. 

10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt 
suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into 
prison, that ye may he tried; and ye shall have tribu- 
lation ten days: he thou faithful unto death, and I 
will give thee a crown of life. 

11. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saitli unto the churches; He that overcometh 
shall not he hurt of the second death. 

2. Smyrna represents the Church of the Martyrs. It began about 
175 A. D. when Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, fell victim, with others, to 
a fearful persecution, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius. In Diocletian’s 
reign such violent persecution ensued that the period is known in 
history as the “ Era of Martyrs.” The things which this church suf- 
fered were many, but Jesus said, “Fear none of those things which thou 
shalt suffer,” “ be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown 
of life.” And certainly many were thus faithful unto death. Great 
tribulation and worldly poverty characterized this time, but riches of 
spiritual value were acquired. These persecutions severed the unity of 
the church, shut each body out from holding intercourse with others, 
and each section came to recognize their local bishop as the head of 
the church, while a central authority became lost sight of. The Spirit 
of Division split up the church into many fragments. To them who 
must suffer violent physical death, came the consoling promise, “ He 
that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Of what this 
second death is it will be best to speak of under chapter 20. 

12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos 
write; These things saith he which hath the sharp 
sword with two edges; 

13. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, 
even where Natan’s seat is: and thou boldest fast my 
name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days 
wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was 
slain among you, where Natan dwelleth. 

14. But I have a few things against thee, because 
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, 
who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the 
children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, 
and to commit fornication. 


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15. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine 
of the Nicolaitans, which thing' 1 hate. 

10. Repent; or else 1 will come unto thee quickly, 
and will tight against them with the sword of my 
mouth. 

17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overeom- 
eth will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will 
give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name 
written, which no man knoweth, saving he that re- 
ceiveth it. 

3. Pergamos, a Greek colony, represents the Greek Church, or 
Church of the Emperors. Pergamos was the n'earest of the seven to 
Constantinople, which became the seat of authority of the Greek 
Church. 

The gorgeous Greek Church began with Constantine A. D. 323. 
As he marched against his rival Maxentius, it is said he saw a lumin- 
ous cross in the heavens, bearing the inscription in Greek, “ Conquer 
by this.” Constantine practically made himself the head of the visible 
church in the Roman Empire. To-day the Czar of Russia holds this 
position, in respect to this same Greek Church, which still persists, al- 
though the conditions and spirit which called it into life, have passed 
the rule on to others. Constantine augmented the church tremen- 
dously. It grew, and swelled into a mighty body under his patronage. 
The Spirit of Aggregation dominated this period of the church. It was 
corrupt in many of its parts. Licentiousness abounded. In the 
“ sword of my mouth ” we see the power of Christ in opposition to the 
sword of Constantine, by which he may be said to have established this 
church. Constantine seeking, from motives of policy, to strengthen 
his hold upon idolaters and Christians alike, established Sunday, the 
•day which the idolaters held in honor of the sun, as the day for Chris- 
tian worship. By this act the observance of Saturday, the Jewish 
Sabbath, by the Christians, was done away with, and Sunday, as the 
Lord’s day,” was established. Such a mixture of the Christian and 
idol w r orsliip resulted in eating “ things sacrificed unto idols;” and the 
mingling of Christians and pagans overthrew the pure religion of 
Christ, just as effectually as the religion of Jehovah was corrupted by 
the mingling of Israel with the Moabites in the days of Balaam and 
Balak. Num. 22 : 1 to 25 : 18. This compromise between Christianity 
and Idolatry was the doctrine of Balak which Constantine introduced. 
Christ knew that Satan and the spirit of evil dwelt in the instigators of 
the corrupt practices and errors which crept into the church at this 
time. 

In “ Antipas ” is probably prefigured the faithful Chrysostom, 
Archbishop of Constantinople, who was put to death in that city, 
“ where Satan dwelt” in the soul of Constantine. 

To establish and give countenance to his doctrines, Constantine 
caused the great council of Nice to be held, A. D. 325. This council 
formulated the doctrines of the church, and is. the foundation upon 
which future churches built. 


3 


18. Ami irnto the angel of the church in Thyatira 
write; These things saitli the Son of God, who hath his 
eyes like unto a ftauie of lire, and his feet are like fine 
brass ; 

19. I know thy works, and charity, and service, 
and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the 
last to be more than the iirst: 

20. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against 
thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, 
which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to se- 
duce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat 
things sacrificed unto idols. 

21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornica- 
tion, and she repented not. 

22. Rehold, 1 will cast her into a bed, and them 
that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, 
except they repent of their deeds. 

2*1. And I will kill her children with death; and 
all the churches shall know that f am lie which 
searchetli the reins and hearts: and I will give unto 
every one of you according to your works. 

24. But unto you E say, ami unto the rest in Thya- 
tira, As many as have not this doctrine, and which 
have not known the depths of 8atan, as they speak; I 
will put upon you none other burden: 

25. But that which ye have already, hold fast till 
I come. 

20. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my 
words unto the end, to him w ill I give power over the 
nations: 

27 . (And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as 
the vessels of a potter they shall be broken to shivers:) 
even as I received of my Father. 

28. And I will give him the morning-star. 

29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saith unto the churches. 

4. Thyatira represents the Roman Catholic Church. The 
church pre-eminent for its works. No missionaries have been so 
zealous as the Catholic. They have planted the cross in the most dis- 
tant lands and among the most dangerous people. Wherever the Pro- 
testants have sent their missionaries, there they have found the Cath- 
olics before them. It is a church of charities; Sisters of Mercy 
everywhere. And the “Son of God’’ knoweth “thy works, and charity, 
and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works ; and the last 
to be more than the first.” For this Christ commends the Catholics. 
But Christ, “ the Son of God,” condemns the worship of Mary, which 
appears here under the symbol of Jezebel and the idolatry connected 
therewith. And death is threatened to all who put their faith in this 


4 


doctrine. The worship of Mary is accursed (v. 20-24). The Roman 
Catholic Church claims Peter as its first Pope, and a continued succes- 
sion from his time. But history shows that the Bishop of Rome did 
not successfully assume superior authority over the other bishops be- 
fore A. D. 330, and not until the seventh century did he come to be 
looked upon as the Prime Bishop, or Pope, and become generally rec- 
ognized as the head of the Church. 

It is the Roman Catholic Church that has had rule over the 
nations, v. : 26-27. The Bishop of Rome was given some voice in the 
temporal affairs of the Roman empire as early as A. D. 568. Gibbon 
deemed Gregory II., 7 15-731, the founder of the Papal monarchy. 
The first real territory was given to Stephen III., A. D. 754. From 
this time the temporal power of the Pope continued uninterrupted, ex- 
cept for two years, 1798-1800, until its overthrow, Sept. 20, 1870, when 
Victor Emmanuel entered Rome. Besides the rule over the Papal 
States the Pope dictated the rulership of all Christendom for centuries. 
The kings of Europe for eight centuries were crowned or excommuni- 
cated by the Pope, and could not successfully rule without his author- 
ity and approval. Even the great Napoleon obtained his crown at the 
hands of the Pope. The Church reached the limit of its power on 
earth in this period. 


CHAPTER III. 

1. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis 
write; These things saith he that hath the seven 
Spirits of God, and the seven stars : I know thy works, 
that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 

2 . Be watchful, and strengthen the things which 
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy 
works perfect before God. 

S. Remember therefore how thou hast received 
and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore 
thou slialt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, 
and thou shalt not know w hat hour I will come upon 
thee. 

4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which 
have not deliled their garments; and they shall walk 
with me in white : for they are worthy. 

5. He that over cometli, the same shall be clothed 
in white raiment; and I w ill not blot out his name out 
of the book of life, but I w ill confess his name before 
my Father, and before his angels. 

6. He that hath an ear, let him hear w hat the 
Spirit saith unto the churches. 

1. Sardis represents the church militant on earth. It sprang out 
of the age of chivalry, and was due to a religious revival brought about 
•by the expectation of the coming of the end of the world, and the re- 


15 


actionary crime. As the year 1000 A. D. approached great expecta- 
tion of the end of the world and the coming of the millennium was en- 
tertained. Men neglected their work, crops were not planted, clothes 
not made. As a result great famine and dreadful disease spread 
throughout France and northern Italy. Vice, crime and poverty fol- 
lowed, naturally, in the early part of the eleventh century. Then men 
began to do penance. Pilgrims sought the Holy Land, and visited the 
sacred places as never before. And now the Seljuk Turks, who held 
possession of Jerusalem, began persecution of these pilgrim Christians. 
This gave occasion for the crusades. The crusades were religious wars 
waged by the Christians of Europe against the pagan possessors of 
Jerusalem and to recover possession of the Holy Land. They were 
seven in number and occupied the time from A. D. 1095 to 12^91. The 
movement began under the auspices of the Pope at the council of 
Clermont. Temporary possession of Palestine was secured and the 
kingdom of Jerusalem lasted nearly 150 years, until the fall of Acre, 
1291 A. D., when the Mohammedan was left in possession. This 
period in the Church was the outcome of the executive spirit of the 
fifth principle — Affinity. These times and conditions produced the 
Jesuits, Knights Templar, Hospitallers of St. John, etc. 

7 . And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia 
write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is 
true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, 
and no man sliutteth; and sliutteth, and no man 
openeth ; 

8. I know thy works: behold, I have set before 
thee an open dooi% and no man can shut it: for thou 
hast a little strength, anti hast kept my word, and hast 
not denied my name. 

9. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of 
8atan, which say they are Jews, and are not, hut do 
lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship be- 
fore thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 

10. Because thou hast kept the word of my pa- 
tience, I also will keep thee from the hour of tempta- 
tion, w liicli shall come upon all the world, to try them 
that dwell upon the earth. 

11. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which 
thou hast, that no man take thy crow n. 

12. Him that overcometh, w ill I make a pillar in 
the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: 
and I w ill write upon him the name of my God, and the 
name of the city of my God, w hich is new Jerusalem, 
which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and 
I w ill w rite upon him my new name. 

1 3. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saith unto the churches. 


i6 

2. Philadelphia represents the Protestant church. This move- 
ment known as the “ Reformation ” began in Germany, under Martin 
Luther, 1517. Further rebellion from the Roman Catholic Church in 
England, under Henry VIII., called the "‘English Reformation,” pro- 
duced the Church of England, out of which various bodies of dissenters, 
came, widening the distance between the older and the newer religious 
thought. 

One set of dissenters are known as the Puritans. Surely it was. 
God who opened the way for them, and neither Holland nor England 
could shut it up. The open door of America was set before them, and 
with their little strength our forefathers planted well the spiritual seed,, 
and kept the word of God. Those who upheld the king (George III.) 
in his Jew policy of extortion, have been brought to bow down to us, 
•and to know assuredly that Jesus hath loved us. The Puritan Protest- 
ants sought to separate church and state, and so have marked Protest- 
antism with a principle opposite to that of the Roman Catholic. Among 
the several branches of dissenters which came out of the English 
Church in the seventeenth century was that of the Quakers, or Friends, 
under the leadership of George Fox. The name “ Philadelphia ” is 
pretty thoroughly associated with the Quakers in this country. And 
they are a good type of the church of the sixth period wliich Jesus 
loves, and which is to be kept from that hour of temptation now dawn- 
ing upon the world. The Methodists under the Wesleys is another 
offshoot of this Sixth church. 

14. And unto the angel of the church of the Luo- 
diceans write ; These things saith the Amen, the 
faithful and true witness, the beginning of the crea- 
tion of God; 

15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold 
nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 

10. So then because thou art lukewarm, and 
neither cold nor hot, 1 will spew thee out of my 
mouth. 

17. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased 
with goods, and have need of nothing; and k 110 west 
not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, 
and blind, and naked: * 

18. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the 
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, 
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of 
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes 
with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

10. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be 
zealous therefore, and repent. 

20 . Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if 
any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will 
come in to him, and will sup w ith him, and he w ith me. 


l 7 


21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit 
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and 
am set down with my Father in his throne. 

22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
Spirit saitli nnto the churches. 

3. Laodicea represents the modern church, and the period of its 
existence is now. Its spirit is that of the center. It is dominated by 
inward thought. It had its rise in the teachings of such minds as 
Swedenborg, and the Church of the New Jerusalem is a product of the 
spirit of the present religious age. The church of this period is dom- 
inated by the intellect. The theosophy of the Orient has inoculated 
all the Protestant denominations, of this day, with more or less of its 
peculiar metaphysical ideas. This may be observed in the Congregational 
Church. In the nature of its thought, at least, the church is rapidly 
returning to Asia, where it was cradled, completing its round of life. 
In the Esoterics, Christian Scientists, Theosophists, and the several 
branches of believers in Sanctification, mostly embraced under the 
general name of Christian Alliance, is found the advanced expression 
of the seventh age of the Church. The church of to-day , as a whole, 
is intellectual, and under the calm sway of reason, has adapted itself to 
the worldly conditions that surround it. It is not fanatical, neither is 
it indifferent to the spiritual needs of the time — “neither hot nor cold.” 
Never before in the history of the church has it lived with the world 
so comfortably, so at peace, so free from persecution. Indeed they are 
quite good friends, are the church and the world. Never before has 
the church been so “ rich, and increased with goods.” In the United 
States, alone, $500,000,000 in the possession of the church members, 
and this wealth said to be increasing at the rate of $40,000,000 per an- 
num. Never before could those outside point with such truth to the 
questionable and worldly practices of churches and church members — 
card parties, dancing clubs, church fairs. Yea, the church buildings 
themselves have been turned into billiard halls, workshops and play- 
rooms — the institutional church — the world’s church. “ Knowest not 
that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked . 
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire [of persecution], that 
thou mayest be rich ; and the white raiment [of Christ’s righteousness], 
that thou mayest be clothed ; and that the shame of thy nakedness do 
not appear; and anoint thine eyes with the eye-salve [of the Spirit], 
that thou mayest see.” The time when the church shall be rejected 
as the vehicle of God’s truth is near at hand. He will soon spew it 
out of His mouth. Only such as seek after, and receive, the teachings 
of the Revelations of Jesus Christ, look for his second advent, and live 
in accordance with such beliefs are living after the great law of God, 
and may hope to overcome in this time, and in the time to come sit 
with Christ upon His throne. 

4. Some general observations press upon us in reading these two 
chapters of Revelation. The closing message to each church is iden- 
tically the same — “ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit 
saith unto the churches.” The revelation made and instruction 


8 


given to each church or period is meant for all churches, and all Chris- 
tians of all times of the Church. It is one creation of the Christ, each 
church is but a link in one chain. And it is all for us. 

5. Again, in every church, in every time, it is only “to him 
that overcometh ” that shall obtain the promises. All exhortation is 
made to this end. All incentive is made to this accomplishment. 
None of the blessings of a lasting kind, or those to be enjoyed beyond 
the present life which we now live, are to be received by any except 
those who overcome. But all who overcome shall so receive. What 
is it we are to overcome? In this day Christ stands at the door and 
knocks and says, “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I 
will come in.” We are to overcome the false teachings of worldly 
practice, we are to turn away from the voice of the spirit of the past, 
and listen to the voice of Christ’s spirit, which is now speaking through 
His revealed word. If we will but hear and are obedient, and fill our 
lamps with oil, we shall go in to the marriage supper. Matt. 25 : 1— 13. 

6. It should be further observed that the first three churches are 
first exhorted to “ hear what the Spirit saith,” and then to overcome ; 
while the last four are first told to overcome and then hear what the Spirit 
saith. The reason of this reversal of order is to conform to the law. 
The centrifugal is master first, then the centripetal, reversing the order 
of action. In all revelations the typical significance of things is closely 
observed. Moreover, because of the law, or method, of operation of the 
Seven Spirits, this relationship of the hearing of the Spirit, and the 
doing involved in the overcoming, is strictly as required by fact. The 
overcoming in the earlier times of the Church took place by reason of 
the voice of the Spirit which first moved the hearts of the hearers. But 
to him who would now hear the voice of God, and walk in the light of 
knowledge from on high, must first come victory over the flesh, the world 
and the devil. The reason why so few now hear the Spirit is that 
they have not clothed themselves in the righteousness of Christ. 


CHAPTER IV. 

1. After this I looked, and, hehofd, a door was 
opened in heaven : and the first voice which 1 heard 
was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which 
said, Come up hither, and f will show thee things 
which must he hereafter. 

2 . And immediately 1 was in the Spirit: and, be- 
hold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the 
throne. 

3. And he that sat was tojlook upon like a jasper 
and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow ’round 
about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 

1. The same unmistakable voice, “ as it were of a trumpet,” and 
with the same voice of authority as first heard by John, is again heard 
inviting him to look into heaven; the heaven of “hereafter” to the 


19 


time of John. Again he was in a trance. “ A throne was set in 
heaven, and one sat on the throne.” The first thing seen, the most 
conspicuous object, the center of all attractions, was the throne and 
its occupant. The author and ruler of all, the one whom all 
adored and served was, and is, and will forever be the center of heaven. 

“ He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone.” The 
jasper is of all colors of the rainbow. The sardine stone I have never 
seen described, but from Ez. i : 27, we learn that this was the color of 
amber. An emerald, or a green rainbow, encircled the throne. The 
Almighty could not be described in detail by John. It is not likely 
that he could see more of Him than an appearance of all the pris- 
matic colors — the Seven Spirits all centered in one Being as the 
appearance of fire. Ez. 1 : 27-28. God is not to be described, nor in- 
deed seen. Only in Christ can we see His image, and only as He 
.shows Him to us can we ever see the Almighty Father. Heb. 1:3; 
Math. 11 : 27 ; Jno. 1 : 18. The rainbow like emerald represents the 
periphery where form is externalized and made visible ; the region or 
realm of the fourth or middle one of the Seven Spirits of God. See chap. 

1 , comment 5. The first three spirits continually send out of God’s vital 
energy from the throne to this rainbow, while the last three continu- 
ally carry back from this periphery of form the eternal essence to the 
throne again. In this whole third verse then we see, not a visible in- 
dividual, but a symbolic vision of God, the almighty Spirit of Love. 
Only so can God be seen. 

4. And round about the throne were four and 
twenty seats; and upon the seats I saw four and twenty 
elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had 
on their heads crowns of gold. 

2. These four and twenty elders, having seats about God’s throne, 
occupied positions of great honor. Their pure white raiment shows 
them of spotless character, and their crowns of gold signify their ex- 
alted power. They are next to God. Upon them John’s vision rested 
when, for a moment, he could turn his eyes from the central brilliancy. 
Yet these four and twenty elders are of the redeemed of earth. Rev. 5 : 
8-9. They could sing of Christ, Thou “ hast redeemed ns to God by 
Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” 
They are the representatives of the redeemed of earth ; men who have 
passed through the fire of earth’s evils, difficulties and sorrows. 
Through the love of the Son of God these have been made white, and 
lifted up from earth to heaven, and exalted to be priests and kings 
unto God. These, also, have been ordained to reign on the earth. 
Rev. 5 : 8-10. 

5 . And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, ami 
thnnderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps 
of tire burning before the throne, which are the seven 
Spirits of bod. 

3. Again John’s eyes, which have strayed for a moment, are 
turned towards that wonderous throne in heaven. He beheld proceed- 


20 


in g out of it “ lightnings and thunderings and voices” — the seven-fold 
Spirit of God in ceaseless activity, and it rushes forth to the emerald 
periphery, where it burns before the throne in seven lamps of fire, 
wherein it has assumed the individual character of the “ Seven Spirits 
of God.” In the seven lamps, at the periphery, God has individual- 
ized His vital essence, and made it to appear in successive order, pro- 
ducing Space and Time ; and each of the Seven here reigns distinct 
from each of the others. Only so could existence have been. God on 
the throne is like the undivided white light of the sun ; the Seven 
Spirits of God, before the throne, are like that white light after it has 
been passed through a prism, it is no longer one, but seven. And each 
of the seven has its own place, and order, and relationship ; whereby 
difference has been created. 

6. And before the throne there was a sea of glass 
like unto crystal: And in the midst of the throne, 
and round about the throne, were four heasts full of 
eyes before ami behind. 

7 . And the first beast was like a lion, and the 
second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a 
face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying 
eagle. 

4. Now before the throne, and in consequence of the Seven, ap- 
pears “ a sea of glass like unto crystal.” In another place it is spoken 
of as a “sea of glass mingled with fire.” Rev. 15:2. It was a bright 
and glowing pavement. It was more, it had depth to it. It was a “sea.” 
It is the glowing space filled with fire — bright suns, with their paler 
planets, the crystal grains of the region surrounding the throne. Here 
were “ ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands ” 
of angels. Rev. 5: n. Can you figure out their number? An in- 
conceivable number to human thought. Later John saw stand here, 
those of our own race who had gotten the victory. Rev. 15 : 2. 
After John saw this sea of glass he beheld four beasts. They were in 
the midst of the throne, and they were round about the throne, also, 
where the Seven Spirits of God were, and where the Sea was, and the 
four and twenty elders. They are the representatives of the created 
universe. As the elders represent our redeemed race, they repre- 
sent all the forms of existence. Through them all existence continu- 
ally praises God. They are “ in the midst of the throne,” signifying 
that they are filled with the Spirit of God; “and round about the 
throne,” signifying that here, in existence, where all the forms God 
has made are placed, their work is accomplished. If we read Ezekiel, 
chapter one, we will learn more about these “ four living creatures,” 
as they are called there. We identify them as the same because of 
their “likeness” or “ faces,” being the same. Ez. 1: 10; Rev. 4 : 7. 
Then, also, they are recognized as the same because both John and 
Ezekiel were seeing “ visions of God” (Ez. 1 : 1), and both beheld 
these four appear from the “ midst” of the brightness and awfulness 
of the throne. Ez. 1 : 4, 5, 26, 27, 28. These four “ went up and down 
among the living creatures.” Ez. 1 : 13. These four are the Spirit of 


2 


God at work in His universe, and they are four to signify that His 
universe is fourfold. Four is the number expressiveof form. And four 
great types of living creatures are evolved, by God’s power, and pro- 
duce each its kindred and harmonious surroundings and conditions. 
The universe passes through four great seasons, just as our earth does 
each year. 

The Spirit of God first flows from the center towards the periphery, 
directed by will in a centrifugal direction, the season o i creation y when 
God is made manifest in His works ; this is signified by the Eion. 
Next, the Spirit at the periphery revolves, or passes through the cycle 
of life, and is the habitor of many forms, all of whom are passing 
through many changes ; this is the season of transformation , near the 
end of which, on this earth, we are now living ; and is expressed by the 
calf or ox. After this work of the Spirit the will directs it centripetally 
towards the center, and this return is the season of regeneration , and 
since this new birth belongs to nothing less than man, a man’s face il- 
lustrates it. Finally God’s Spirit is enthroned at the center, from 
whence it first came, and here rules the season of spiritualization , about 
which we can know so little; this is the flying eagle. These seasons fol- 
low each other in continual succession through all parts of the uni- 
verse. In the material realm they are characterized, in their order, by 
the conditions of gas, liquid, solid and combustion. 

8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings 
about him; and they were full of eyes within: and 
they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, 
IiOrd God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 

5. “ These beasts had six wings.” In Ezekiel the four creatures 

had “ four wings ” and “ four wheels.” Four signifies form or outward 
expression, and presents them as manifest in earth. Ezekiel saw them 
from the earth’s standpoint. They appeared to him “ a whirlwind ” 
'‘out of the north.” John’s view of them was as they appeared in 
heaven. Six signifies the six active Spirits of God, the Seventh Spirit 
of rest being embodied within the being, and, as will power, governing 
the motion of the six wings. John saw them full of eyes, the Spirit of 
God within them, had vision and understanding, and knowledge of all 
things. The Spirit was “ full ” of intelligence. The eyes signify this 
intelligence. Ezekiel saw rings about them so high that they were 
dreadful, and these rings were full of eyes. “ And their appearance 
and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.” Ez. 
1 : 16. These wheels, in which was the life of the creature (Ez. 1 : 20- 
21 margin), represent the active operation of the Spirit of God in the 
season in which it does its work. All existences whether of races, or 
individuals, figuratively, if not literally, like the stars, revolve in an orbit 
and pass through a cycle of time. Their period of duration is measured 
by the complete circle of their life. Then too, life is not cut off, having 
a distinct and abrupt end, but, being in a circle, passes on into another 
round of life. For the circle, or ring, or wheel, has no end. Again in 
the “ middle ” of the greater wheel, or circle of existence as a whole, is 
found the wheel of the living creature. While the whole of the ring 


22 


of life is full of knowledge and intelligence, as shown by the eyes. All 
created things, as represented in these beasts, are continually “ saying 
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” The universe continually 
sings praises to its Creator. 

!>. And when those beasts give glory, and honour, 
and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth 
for ever and ever. 

10. The four and twenty elders fall down before 
him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liv- 
eth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the 
throne, saying, 

1 1 . Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and 
honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, 
and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

6. As the whole of creation ‘‘give glory and honor and thanks” to 
God, so shall redeemed man, “ and worship Him that liveth forever 
and ever.” The birds praise Him in their glad song, flowers give forth 
their beauty and fragrance unreservedly, so will the heart of the re- 
deemed burst forth in song and glad acclamation. 


CHAPTER V. 

1. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on 
the throne a hook written within and on the hack side, 
sealed with seven seals. 

1. This book, in the right hand of God, contains His purposes for 
the earth, while under the rule of Satan. It is the history of earth 
from Adam’s fall to the time of the “ restoration of all things.” The 
past, present and future are recorded here. It is a roll, and not like 
our printed books. It has two sides, or two halves to it, a front and a 
back side. It is written within and without (Ez. 2 : 9-10), which sig- 
nifies that it is both the history of the important outward, or material, 
sensually visible events ; and also of the inner spiritual meaning and 
real changes ; which, while unseen by man’s animal eyes, are the vital 
and important affair?;. It also signifies that part of the history is in 
this world, the outside or back, and part is in heaven. The history of 
the events of this world are not complete in themselves. History 
begins and ends in that unseen realm within. That is the most im- 
portant and the most voluminous. The book is sealed with seven 
seals, which signifies mystery. The book is hidden from man’s under- 
standing so that no one can read it, with intelligent comprehension, of 
its meaning, until the seals are broken. There are seven seals, for 
the work of each of the Seven Spirits of God is sealed, the seven periods 
of their labor is hid. 

2 . Ami I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a 
loud voice, Who is worthy to open the hook, and to 
loose the seals thereof? 


23 


3- And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither 
under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to 
look thereon. 

4. And l wept much, because no man was found 
worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look 
thereon. 

5. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: 
behold, the Lion of the tribe of .fuda, the Root of 
David, hath prevailed to ©pen the book, and to loose 
the seven seals thereof. 

2. The history of God’s purposes for the earth and its human 
race, man, has been hid throughout the ages. No one has been found 
“ worthy,” or “able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” One 
might well weep for the unworthiness and weakness of our race. But 
behold, Christ, the anointed, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root 
of David,” is worthy and He “ hath prevailed to open the book, and to 
loose the seven seals thereof,” so that you and I may likewise read. 

0. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne 
and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, 
stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns 
and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of bod 
sent forth into all the earth. 

3. We have here presented to us Christ, the Son of God, for He is 
“in the midst of the throne the Ruler of the Universe, for He is in 
the midst ” of the four beasts ; and the Son of Man, for He is “in the 
midst of the elders ” — the three-fold Messiah. He “ stood a Lamb as 
it had been slain”, our sacrificial lamb, the atonement for our sins; 
but He had “the seven horns,” which means all power; and the 
“seven eyes,” which means all knowledge; which are the Seven 
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” All power and force and 
vitality must serve Him, for He it is that possesses them and is king 
over them. Jesus Christ hath the Seven Spirits of God. Rev. 3 : 1. 
Jesus is called both a Lion and a Lamb, strangely unlike in character 
and habits of life. Yet here is but another presentation of the truth 
that Jesus is all in all. His manifestation of God is threefold and per- 
fect. First- -as the beginning of creation (Rev. 3 : 14), and King over 
the centrifugal forces which bring God out into His works and mani- 
fest Him, He is symbolized in the blood red, which is the first of the 
three prime colors. This red presents Christ in His own peculiar office 
of son. The red is symbolical of the centrifugal character of the male, 
as blue is of the female, but Christ is the son, not the daughter. Again, 
the season of creation is presented by a lion and Christ is called “the 
Lion.” But Christ, born on earth of the Virgin Mary, was conceived 
of the Holy Ghost, and became the image of God, and the form of God. 
In this second office he presents to us God the Father, perfect, in the 
union and control of both the outward and inward powers. This char- 
acter of the father is expressed by the amber yellow. In the third 
place, Christ, as the first fruits of them that sleep, has entered the re- 


24 


generate world in which the Holy Spirit is the governing force, and 
which is symbolized in the blue of the sky. And He has become, in that 
centripetal realm, the King of kings, and will shortly come as Messiah, 
the Ivion of the tribe of Judah, to rule on earth, clothed in white, the 
sum of all colors, since he hath made himself master of all realms. 
Christ has uncovered both the outside of the book — the centrifugal, 
and the inside of the book — the centripetal, and is their king. 

7. And lie came and took the book out of tlie right 
hand of him that sat upon the throne. 

8. Ami when he had taken the hook, the four 
beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the 
Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden 
vials full of odours,* w hich are the prayers of saints. 

4. He “ took the book.” He hath assumed control of affairs on 
earth, and will manifest the works of God to man. “And when he had 
taken the book ” he received the worship before offered to its Author, 
God ; for in taking the book he assumes before man the place of God. 
And the sweetest incense the elders can offer to him “ are the prayers 
of saints.” 

9. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art 
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof : 
for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed ns to God by 
thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and peo- 
ple, and nation; 

10. And hast made us unto our God kings and 
priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many 
angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and the 
elders: and the number of them was ten thousand 
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 

12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb 
that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wis- 
dom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and 
blessing. 

IS. And every creature which is in heaven, and 
on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in 
the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying. 
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto 
him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb 
for ever and ever. 

14. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the 
four and twenty elders fell down and w orshipped him 
that liveth for ever and ever. 

5. “ They sing a new song.” It was a song of a new achieve- 
ment, a God slain for the redemption of man. It could never have 
been sung in heaven before the heroic deed had been accomplished. 
What a wondrous deed, worthy of sublimest music. 


25 


Three sets of singers take part in it, and with different 
words and with a different realization of the meaning of Christ’s 
deed, and with vastly different enthusiasm and ardor. “ Every 
creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the 
earth, and such as are in the sea,” could sing to the honor 
and glory of God and the Lamb. The countless hosts of angels 
could say with “ loud voice, ‘ Worthy is the Lamb ’ that was 
slain.” But it was only the redeemed of men who could sing of the 
“ blood”, of Jesus, and whose gratitude swelled their hearts almost too 
full for utterance, so that it is not said of their song that it was “loud.” 
These soloists of the song had a personal interest, and a part in the 
grand recital, unknown and unknowable, to the angels and creatures 
of heaven and earth; for from the deepest stains of degredation and 
sin Jesus has washed us clean in his blood, and from the lowest 
depths lifted us up on high, “ and hast made us unto our God kings 
and priests.” 

6. It is expressly declared that “ we shall reign on the earth.” 
Not that we now reign on the earth, but at a time after this song is sung. 
The time of the millennium seems conclusively to be meant. Rev. 20: 4. 

7. This number of angels, multiplied according to the figures, is 
incomprehensibly large and unknown. If we give the figures 
the lowest value ascribable to them we have 400 trillions — four 
and fourteen ciphers — a number beyond human conception. This 
would mean the population of four hundred thousand worlds like ours. 
They ascribe unto Christ gilts, according to their own sevenfold and 
perfect natures, power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and 
blessing; while the creatures of the visible world, the realm of form, 
after their fourfold nature give blessing, honor, glory and power. 


CHAPTER VI. 

1. And I saw w hen the Lamb opened one of the 
seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one 
of the four beasts, saying, Come and see. 

2 . And I saw, and behold, a white horse: and he 
that sat on him had a bow r ; and a crown was given 
unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to 
conquer. 

3. And when he had opend the second seal, I 
heard the second beast say, Come and see. 

4. And there went out another horse that was 
red : and power was given to him that sat thereon to 
take peace from the earth, and that they should kill 
one another: and there was given unto him a great 
sword. 

5. And wiien he had opened the third seal, I heard 
the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and 
lo, a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair 
of balances in his hand. 


26 


0. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four 
heasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three 
measnres of harley for a penny; and see thou hurt not 
the oil anil the wine. 

7. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I 
heard the voice of the fourth heast say, Come and see. 

8. And I looked, and behold, a pale horse: and 
his name that sat on him was Heath, and hell followed 
with him. And power was given unto them over the 
fourth part of the earth, to kill w ith sword, and w ith 
hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the 
earth. 

It must be remembered that we have two sides to our book, the 
outside and inside, and that the dreadful things are written within. 
Ez. 2 : io. The first three seals cover the outer world or things on 
the earth, the last three, the inner world or things in heaven, and the 
fourth seal connects the two worlds. Hence, the four beasts, who 
represent the four seasons of the outer or visible realm, each in turn, 
as the first four seals are opened, says, “ Come and see.” It is through 
God’s Spirit working in and through them that these manifestations 
in form — the visible world — have been made. 

2. The first three seals removed, or the outside of the book of 
the History of Transformation on Earth — the time from Adam’s fall to 
the millennium — uncovered, reveals the three prime races of the human 
family, the White, the Red and the Black. The white race, illustrated 
by the white horse, is given the “ crown,” “ and he went forth con- 
quering and to conquer.” He is the conqueror of the earth. And 
the white race is to rule the whole earth. The red race, with all its 
modifications and shades of color embraces Indian, both East Indian 
and west Indian, Malay, Mongolian, and all races of the different 
shades cf copper, red and browm color. This race has been pre-em- 
inently the takers of “ peace from the earth,” and always have and will 
“kill one another.” The black race has been the working race, and 
sometimes the slaves of the world, and has given to earth the 
cheap labor which has made commodities cheap. 

3. The name of him that sat on the pale horse of the fourth seal 
was “ Death.” Death connects this outward earth life to the inward 
unseen world. The fourth seal covered the turn of the roll from the 
back side to the front side. All the three races meet here, and a 
fourth of their number, approximately, are under the devastating power 
of disease, or slain in war, or with hunger, or by the beasts of the earth. 

4. In Zechariah, chapter six, verses one to eight inclusive, we see 
the three races of men presented in a different order, viz. : red, black, 
white, showing that the seals covered things rather than times ; and 
that the qualities and facts are here deemed more important than the 
periods of their evolution. Natural history points out still a third 
order, as the actual time of their supremacy on earth, viz. : first the 
Black Race, which once dominated the whole earth’s surface ; second 
the Red, and third the White. But this would carry us back to the 


27 


season of Creation, and gives us the creative order. In order of soul 
development John’s is the correct one, white, red and black. The fact 
is, that throughout the “ transformation ” period, the three races have 
been simultaneously wrought upon and brought forward. We may 
note here, in Zechariah, that the three races were sent to occupy cer- 
tain parts of the earth particularly, but that the fourth, “ grizzled and 
bay,” which represents death, were given to “walk to and fro through 
the earth.” Death went everywhere. “ These are the four winds 
(marginal) of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the 
Lord.” In which we see the four beasts of God’s throne. Ez. i : 4-5 ; 
Rev. 6 : 1 . 

9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw 
under the altar the souls of them that were slain for 
the word of fiod, and for the testimony which they 
held : 

10. And they cried witli’a loud voice, saying, How 
long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and 
avenge our hlood on them that dwell on the earth? 

11. And white robes were given unto every one of 
them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest 
yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also 
and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, 
should be fulfilled. 

5. We now turn the roll of the book, and the rest of the seals, 
when removed, disclose what is written within, of the purposes of God. 
These disclosures, while they may react upon life manifested on earth, 
directly apply to that unseen world to which we all go after death. 
Earthly terms must be used to convey the truths intended, since none 
others are understood by us ; but these terms must be spiritually un- 
derstood. We see them, under the altar in heaven, the souls of the 
redeemed race. These have all been slain by the fourth power of 
death, whether by sword or famine, or disease. These are distinguished 
from others of mankind who have died, as those who had the “ word of 
God,” and “ for the testimony which they held.” “ White robes were 
given unto every one of them,” and they rest under the altar of God 
until all Christians, now on the earth, shall be gathered home. This 
fifth seal removed discloses the present state of all Christians who have 
died. Their souls rest under heaven’s altar, which signifies that they 
are under the blood of Jesus, who was sacrificed for them on this altar; 
and there thev wait until the end of the transformation age on earth 
arrives, when God shall avenge their wrongs upon the nations of the 
earth. The dead which die in the Lord rest from their labors. Rev. 
14: 13; Heb. 4 : 9-1 1; Luke 16: 22; 1 Thess. 4 : 13-15. They rest 
until “the end of the days” of this age. Dan. 12: 13. But the 
wicked do not enter into rest. Luke 16 : 23, etc. The present and 
future state of the wicked after death is shown us in chapter 9. The 
period on earth, which is the reflected vision of this heavenly vision is, 
the present time, from Christ’s sacrifice on earth until the saints are all 
called out of the earth. This period is now nearly finished. 


28 


12 . And I beheld when he had opened the sixth 
seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the 
sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon 
became as blood : 

13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, 
even as a tig-tree castetli her untimely tigs, when she 
is shaken of a mighty w ind. 

14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it 
is rolled together; and every mountain and island 
were moved out of their places. 

15. And the kings of the earth, and the great 
men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and 
the mighty men, and every bond-man, and every free- 
man, hid themselves in tiie dens and in the rocks of 
the mountains; 

10. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on 
us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on 
the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb : 

17. For the great day of his wrath is come; and 
who shall be able to stand? 

6. “A great earthquake.” These are all symbols and must be 
spiritually read. This doubtless means to earth a great upheaval of 
society, and is identical to that mentioned in Rev. 16 : 18, where the 
events of this awful time will be commented on more in detail. The 
sun moon and stars are troubled, and the heaven departed, all relates 
to that terrible time when the judgment of this age of earth takes 
place. For the great day of God’s “ wrath is come, and who shall be 
able to stand?” This pouring out of the “ wrath of God ,” upon earth 
is so much more fully expressed in chapter 16 that we defer comment 
to that chapter. The sixth seal uncovers events of the immediate fu- 
ture. And these events are of such importance to mankind that several 
chapters of Revelations are devoted to them under their various aspects. 
Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. 


CHAPTER VII. 

Before the eaith is hurt by the terrible times of the sixth seal the 
servants of God must be removed from the danger, and so saved from 
the punishment that is to fall upon the earth for man’s sins, and for 
his defiance of God. Two ways of protecting them are to be adopted. 
Two classes of them are to be formed. One lot is to be “ sealed,” or 
marked against the destroying angels, as the Israelites were protected, 
when Egypt’s first-born were slain (Ex. 12 : 7, 12, 13); and this lot is to 
remain on earth and pass through these terrible times, protected 
by the seal of God. The other, and more numerous lot, are to be 
taken out of the world to heaven before the judgment falls. 


29 


1. And after these things I saw four angels stand- 
ing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four 
winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on 
the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 

This is after the beginning of troubles. 

1. The four angels holding the four winds are the Spirits of God 
dwelling in the four living creatures. Compare what has been said and 
see Ez. i: 4; Zech. 6: 5. Their mention in this first verse in connection 
with the earth, emphasizes the fact of the four seasons of the earth’s 
whole existence, not of the four seasons of the year, which are but re- 
minders of the greater seasons. The four spirits have wrought their 
work on earth as truly as in the whole of the universe. 

2 . And I saw another angel ascending from the 
east, having the seal of the living (tod: and he cried 
with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was 
given to hurt the earth and the sea, 

S. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor 
the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our Hod 
in their foreheads. 

4. And I heard the number of them which were 
sealed : and there were sealed a hundred and forty and 
four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 

5. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thou- 
sand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve 
thousand. Of the tribe of Had were sealed twelve 
thousand. 

6. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thou- 
sand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve 
thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed 
twelve thousand. 

7. Of the tribe of Simeon w ere sealed twelve thou- 
sand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thou- 
sand. Of the tribe of Issacliar were sealed twelve 
thousand. 

8. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve 
thousand. Of the tribe of J osepli were sealed twelve 
thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed 
twelve thousand. 

2. The lot of God’s servants who are to remain on earth through 
the terrible times of the judgment of the earth are here dis- 
closed to be a perfect or symbolic number of each tribe of Israel, ex- 
cept Dan. This representative Israel is to be restored to their own, 
and ancient land, and sealed against the destruction that is to come 
upon the earth. 

Dan is to have a portion in the land of their fathers’ on earth. 
(Ez. 48 : 1), why is he not sealed for heaven ? Read in regard to the 
worship which the tribe of Dan set up in opposition to the worship of 
God, after the tribes came up from Egypt, and also of the idol in Dan 


30 


where Israel worshiped, after its separation from Judah. Judges 
1 8 : 1-3 1 ; 1 Kings 12 : 25-30. 

9. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, 
which no man could number, of all nations, and kin- 
dreds, a Bid people, and tongues, stood before the 
throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white 
robes, and palms in their hands; 

10. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation 
to our 1)3 od which sitteth upon the throne, and unto 
the Lamb. 

11. And all the angels stood round about the 
throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and 
fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped 
God, 

12 . Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, ami wis- 
dom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, ami 
might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 

3. The other lot of God’s servants now appear in heaven; “a 
great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations.” These 
“ stood before the throne ” which, in chapter four, we saw in heaven. 
And, as in chapter five, here it is repeated, how they cried out, this 
great company; “with a loud voice” in praise to God and Christ the 
Lamb, while the angels gave their sevenfold chorus of blessing, glory, 
wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might. 

4. This company of the redeemed out of all nations, are to be 
brought to heaven, it should be noticed, before the four angels “to 
whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea” (v. 2), are permitted 
to bring the terrible times of the great day of God’s wrath upon earth. 
Rev. 6 : 17. The resurrection day has come for them, and they have 
been lifted by the first resurrection to be forever with the Lord. 
“ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.” Rev. 
20 : 6. These are all clothed in white robes, v. 9, and are the armies 
of heaven who later follow Messiah, the King of kings, to earth to 
judge and rule the earth. Rev. 19: n-14. 

18. Ami one of the elders answered, saying unto 
me, What are these w hich are arrayed * in white 
robes? and whence came they? 

14. Anti I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And 
he said to me, These are they w hich came out of great 
tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made 
them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, 
and serve him day and night in his temple; and he 
that sitteth on the throne shall dw ell among them. 

10. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst 
any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor 
any heat. 


3i 


17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the 
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto liv- 
ing; fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away 
tears front their eyes. 

5. One of the elders asked John to say who these are, and gives 
John the answer to his question. 

One of the plagues of that terrible day to come upon earth was 
that “ men were scorched with great heat.” Rev. 16 : 8, 9. But these 
redeemed ones, “ the sun shall not light upon them.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 

1. And when he hail opened the seventh seal, there 
was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 

1. It should be remembered that the Seventh Spirit of God, who 
uncovers that hidden by the seventh seal, is the principle of rest, in 
which the will sits enthroned ; that that throne is at the center within ; 
that here is the final end and ultimatum of every career. The judg- 
ment of God is fixed here. But there was silence in heaven for half an 
hour. There was a portion of mankind whose history is written in the 
book of the age of Transformation, upon whom no judgment was to 
be pronounced. They were not yet to be brought to their final end. 
They are not to be brought into judgment, “ and shall not come into 
condemnation.” Jno. 5 : 24. The redeemed race were to pass on with 
Christ, into the next age, that of regeneration, the history of which is 
not recorded in the sealed book which we have under consideration. 
So a portion of the seventh seal is . silence, making impressive and 
awful the doom of all the rest. 

2 . And I saw tlic seven angels which stood before 
God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 

2. The Seven Angels which stood before God, were the seven 
lamps which stood before His throne (Rev. 4:5), and are the Seven 
Spirits of God, or are angel beings which are animated, with these 
spirits. They are given trumpets. Through them God’s proclama- 
tion, as to the end for the inhabitants of the earth, is to be pro- 
nounced. 

3. And another angel came and stood at the altar, 
having a golden censer; and there was given unto him 
much incense, that lie should offer it with the prayers 
of all saints upon the golden altar w hich w as before 
the throne. 

4. And the smoke of the incense, wiiich came with 
the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out 
of the angel’s hand. 

3. Another angel offers up the sweet odor of the prayers of the 
saints before the throne, and the smoke ascended up before God. This 


32 


is the earnest, or tribute; of what is to be preserved to the coming age 
on earth. 

5. And the angel took the censer, and filled it 
with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth : and 
there were voices, and tliunderings, and lightnings, 
and an earthquake. 

4. But this fire of the altar, so pleasing to God, is the reason for 
punishment ot that in the earth which is so unpleasing, and out of which 
this sweetness has been distilled. It is so contrary, in its nature, to 
that which is left behind in earth, that when the fire of the altar is cast 
into the earth it stirs up commotion, and ‘‘voices, and thunderings r 
and lightnings ; and an earthquake,” is heard. The pure love of the 
altar of God is a fire to create opposition and hatred in earth, and to 
consume and destroy the evil. 

6. And the seven angels which had the seven 
trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 

7 . The first angel sounded, and there followed 
hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast 
upon the earth : and the third part of trees was burnt 
up, and all green grass was burnt up. 

8. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a 
great mountain burning with fire was cast into the 
sea : and the third part of the sea became blood : 

9. And the third part of the creatures w hich were 
in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the 
ships were destroyed. 

10. And the third angel sounded, and there fell a 
great star from heaven, *burning as it were a lamp, and 
it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the 
fountains of waters; 

11. And the name of the star is called Wormw ood : 
and the third part of the waters became wormwood; 
and many men died of the waters, because they were 
made bitter. 

5. We have been told what provision is made for the saints or the 
righteous — chapter 6. We are now, herein, told what befalls the wicked, 
who, at the close of the age of Transformation, are to be brought to 
judgment. This chapter 8, from the sixth verse, gives the woes that 
are to fall upon them in this life, for these are the trumpets of the cen- 
trifugal spirits, the outwardly expressed. The first of these woes falls 
upon the “ earth,” the second upon the “ sea,” and the third upon the 
“ rivers and upon the fountains of waters.” These are all pronounced 
under the seventh seal, hence should have spiritual interpretation : 
“Hail,” storms that destroy crops, see also Ez. 38 : 22 ; and the battle 
of Armageddon, chapter 16 ; “fire mingled with blood ” ; destruction by 
revengeful means, mingled with bloodshed. The wicked live in the 
midst of violence on the earth. It is cast amongst them from off the 
altar, by reason of their conduct making a demand for it. Drought and 
destruction of vegetation, the means of sustaining life follow. V. 7. 


33 


For like reason volcanic action — “ mountain burning with fire was 
cast into the sea ” — violence between men, and disaster, shall cause de- 
struction of life, and of ships on the sea, and much shedding of blood. 
Vs. 8, 9. “Star,” “called Wormwood.” Star and angel are used some-' 
times as synonyms. Rev. 9 : 1 and 20 : 1. Doubtless it is here meant 
that a spirit from heaven shall come to natural man make his life 
bitter and unsatisfactory at the very sources of his being, and where 
he most hopes and expects sweetness and comfort. His home life 
is made unhappy and his soul embittered by domestic infelicity. His 
chosen friends prove false. Disappointments and failures-, and fraud, 
for a third of the race of natural man, have made bitter the waters 
of life, and many seek relief in suicide. V. 10, 11 ; Jer. 9 : 15. 

12 . And the fourth angel sounded, and the third 
part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the 
moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third 
part of them was darkened, anti the day shone not for 
a third part of it, and the night likewise. 

6. We see reference here to those creations wrought by the 
fourth Spirit of God — Limitation— on the fourth day of creation. Gen. 
1: 14-19. And have here represented in the human race, in reverse 
order, what was there wrought in the material world. In the human 
race the “ sun ” represents character. Christ was the “ Sun of right- 
eousness.” Mai. 4:2; 2- Pet. 2 : 28. “They that be wise shall shine 
as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to 
righteousness, as the stars.” Dan. 12: 3; Matt. 13: 43. The moon 
represents man’s earthly occupation, and the stars his spiritual activi- 
ties. In this 1 2th verse we have told us that a third of our race shall 
be smitten in character, their earthly occupation shall be questionable 
and bad, and their spiritual life darkened. Debased in character, 
wicked in practice, and without spiritual light, both the outward, or re- 
vealed ; and the inward, or hidden of their life is shortened, and use- 
less. 

13. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying 
through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice. 
Woe, woe, woe, to the inhahiters of the earth, hy reason 
of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, 
which are yet to sound! 

7. .We have now seen what is the condition of the wicked on 

earth ; what the outwardly expressed spirits of God bring upon man in 
this life ; but “ Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason 
of the voices * * * which are yet to sound.” In the 

fourth is reached the limit of their time on earth; just as the fourth 
seal brought death (chapter 6:8), limitation of life brings death of the 
body, and these woes to come are suffered in the unseen world, the life 
beyond the grave. 


34 


CHAPTER IX. 

1 . And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star 
fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given 
the key of the bottomless pit. 

1. This star is. a spiritual force or angel. Rev. 20 : 1. “Key” 
signifies possession, or keepership. “ Bottomless pit,” the grave. It 
never fills up. Bottomless, limitless, without form. All forms cast 
into the grave decay, crumble into dust, and lose all form. The de- 
cayed body has crumbled into dust before it can become a fertilizer for 
a new life, through which it ascends in new forms again. The bottom- 
less pit is the prison-house of life. Its province is to suppress and 
confine. 

2. But this pit is not topless as well as bottomless. In its higher 
or upper part the pit is subject to limitation, and contains all forms 
which have died, by reason of being separated from the bodies that held 
them in existence and the life of active manifestation. Their bodies 
have dropped bottomward and lost form and being, but the higher or 
inner forms, such as the souls of men, persist in the mouth of the pit. 
Here is found the first hell, or purgatory, where the centrifugal souls of 
evil men feverishly rave in their graves, goaded by a conscience that 
will not let them rest. The soul of the unregenerate, at death, follows 
after its body, as loath to leave it, and enters this purgatory, where 
it is tormented by pangs of conscience. 

2. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there 
arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great 
furnace; and the sun anti the air were darkened hy 
reason of the smoke of the pit. 

3. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon 
the earth: and nnto them was given power, as the 
scorpions of the earth have pow er. 

4. And it was commanded them that they should 
not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green 
thing, neither any tree; but only those men which 
have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 

3. This fifth angel, or spirit of affinity, is the concentrator of 
power and originator of being, as we learn from his creative* work of 
the fifth day of creation. When he opens the bottomless pit he calls 
up to the conscience of the souls which linger about the mouth of the 
pit, in purgatory, the forms or shapes of all the events of their wicked 
lives. The “smoke” is the rising of the dark acts that have been 
committed in the body, which is now undergoing dissolution below, 
within the pit ; and the “ locusts” are the spirits of those acts coming 
out of the smoke and striking the soul with pangs ot remorse and re- 
gret. Of course these did not hurt any green thing on earth, “ only 
those men which did not have the seal of God in their foreheads.” 


35 


5. And to them it was given that they should not 
kill them, but that they should he tormented five 
months: and their torment was as the torment of a 
scorpion, when he striketh a man. 

G. And in those days shall men seek death, and 
shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death 
shall flee from them. 

4. The locusts did not kill the men, but tormented them “ five 
months,” i. e five moons, or through the five senses. For, as we have 
said, the moon relates to the employment of our powers in this earthly 
life, and it is in response to the demands of the five animal senses that 
we employ our physical powers. The five senses are the instruments 
of our carnal knowledge. Through each of the five senses these spirits 
of evil deeds torment man in purgatory. He sees, he hears, he tastes, 
he smells, he touches all the filth and sin of his life while on earth. 
Macbeth, in purgatory, not only sees the blood of King Duncan, its de- 
caying odor fills his nostrils with its stench, the very taste of putrid, 
nauseating flesh is in his mouth, the touch of the cold clamy body is 
against his hand sending cold chills down his back, and the sound of 
his death gurgle is constantly in his ears. Horrors, intensified beyond 
human conception, fill his disembodied form. Men desire to die in this 
state. But this is in purgatory, death has fled from such. Their bodies 
have already perished, and however much their souls seek death they 
cannot find it here. They must live through those horrors, there is no 
escape, for this is merely the beginning of perdition. 

7 . And the shapes of the locusts were like unto 
horses prepared unto battle; and 011 their heads were 
as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as 
the faces of men. 

8. And they had hair as the hair of women; and 
their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 

0. And they had breast-plates, as it were breast- 
plates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the 
sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 

10. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and 
there were stings in their tails: and their power was 
to hurt men five months. 

11. And they had a king over them, which is the 
angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew 
tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his 
name Apollyon. 

12 . One woe is past; and behold, there come two 
woes more hereafter. 

5. Of course it is the tail or afterpart that stings. It is after the 
deed is done that remorse strikes us. These tails represent this re- 
morse, that comes behind. The heads and faces and hair are the mem- 
ories of men and women with whom the dark deeds were committed, 
or who were wronged by them. “ The shapes of the locusts were like 


36 


unto horses prepared unto battle,” “and the sound of their wings,” 
etc., represents the hideousness of war and the strength and awfulness 
of crime. The spirit which rules in this place as king is “ the de- 
stroyer ” Apolly on, or in Hebrew, Abaddon. He rules the realm of 
dissolution and agony, and sets these spirits free from the body, and 
sends them up to torment the soul. The soul is not yet destroyed, 
merely tormented and self-convicted. Man must stand face to face 
with his sins, that every soul may know that he hath brought them 
upon himself — oh, the everlasting regret — and that the destruction 
which is coming to his soul, inevitably and by the nature of things, is 
brought in righteousness and in truth, and by that Infi?iite Love which 
would relieve him of his suffering, in an everlasting death. But, asj^et, 
only one woe is past, “and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.” 

13. And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a 
voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is 
before God. 

1 4. Saying to the sixth angel which had the trump- 
et, Loose the four angels which are hound in the great 
river Euphrates. 

15. And the four angels were loosed, which were 
prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a 
year, for to slay the third part of men. 

6. The sixth angel is the spirit intellectual. The mind is his ter- 
ritory, and the innermost purpose and desire of the heart is his throne. 
The day lies within the month, the hour within the day. Here is pre- 
sented the thought of the spirit which dwells within the soul, and is its 
governing purpose or will; while the soul dwells wdthin the sense. 
The new torment arose from within, from the cave of the soul. The 
stings of purgatory had been through the five senses (months) ; but the 
stings, and slaying of this second hell, or sheol, lies deeper than sense, 
within the soul (day), within the spirit (hour) or purpose of life; and 
extends through all of them, with destructive power, and reaching be- 
yond or outside of sense, destroys the round of life (year), or revolution 
of existence. 

“ Euphrates ” is the river of dead souls. On its banks sits Baby- 
lon, which is the human society from which these souls have been 
drained. The four spirits which are bound in this river of wicked 
souls, are murder, idolatry, lust and avarice. See v. 21. When these 
'spirits which have animated this river of souls, in the lifetime of these 
forms, ai;e loosed, they awake from their sleep and ride forth on the 
deeds which rise from the bottomless pit from the dead bodies. 

10. And the number of the army of the horsemen 
were two hundred thousand thousand; and I heard 
the number of them. 

17. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and 
them that sat on them, having breast-plates of fire, 
and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the 
horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their 
mouths issued fire, and smoke, and brimstone. 


37 


7- “Two hundred thousand thousand,” that is, innumerable are 
these spirits of wickedness, riding these awful deeds done in the flesh. 
The narrative is of events occurring in the spirit or unseen world ; 
although, it may well be f hat souls, tormented in purgatory and sheol, 
do return in presence, as well as in thought, to the locality of their 
crimes. On this assumption some truth may be ascribed to haunted 
houses, etc. This great army were very terrible with heads of lions — 
representing armies — great national murder. “ Out of their mouths is- 
sued fire, and smoke, and brimstone.” The love and desire for evil 
bursting forth to join the deed done, was like fire for intensity, 
like smoke for blackness, and like brimstone for evilness. 

18. By these three was the third part of men 
killed, hy the tire, and by the smoke, and by the brim- 
stone, which issued out of their mouths. 

8. These only had to do with a third part of men, v. 15. The souls 
of such as had lost, or well nigh lost, the power to distinguish between 
good and evil, that is the will power, were destroyed, when the evil 
spirits went out of them to ride upon their deeds which they loved ; 
because those soul forms were so wholly evil that when the evil went 
out, the structure fell to pieces for lack of spiritual substance to sus- 
tain it ; and the soul form, or inner being of man perished. These 
men died -a third of the race were killed by the outgoing of evil. 
Their souls burst asunder, the remaining fragments falling towards the 
formless bottom of the bottomless pit. 

19. For their power is in their mouth, and in 
their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and 
had heads, and with them they do hurt. 

20. And the rest of the men which were not killed 
hy these plagues yet repented not of the works of their 
hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols 
of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of w ood: 
which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 

21. Neither repented they of their murders, nor 
of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their 
thefts. 

9. The third were killed by what issued out of the mouth, by 
which is shown that choice, the spoken will, or purpose of life, is that 
which slew them. They chose destructive things. By their very 
nature their desires slew them when they issued forth from their being 
to follow or ride upon, their wicked deeds. Just as in purgatory, so 
here, the tail, or memory, stung them sorely, hurting them, but did not 
slay. And this remorse and regret continued to hurt the men in sheol 
so long as they did not repent. But if any did repent, what then? 
Of necessity that soul entered into rest. Its career in perdition ceased. 

10. The disembodied souls of the unregenerate are, probably, 
upon earth, although we cannot see them. Purgatory is a condition 
rather than a place. And some whose souls are still in the body have 
entered purgatory, and feel the first scourgings of their sins. But, 


3 « 


figuratively, that is, as representing a truth, purgatory lies at the 
mouth of the bottomless pit. The second hell or Sheol, lies beneath it, 
within the cave, or grave, and next above the formless bottom. All 
the dead bodies of men ; and the souls which are killed in sheol, de- 
scend into the formless bottom, which is the third woe, the second 
death of complete annihilation — an everlasting and complete death. 
Rev. ii : 15, 1 8. 


CHAPTER X. 

1. And I saw another mighty angel come down 
from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow' was 
upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and 
his feet as pillars of tire : 

1. The rainbow with which the angel was crowned shows him 
endowed with the authority of the Seven Spirits of God. His face, 
“as it were the sun,” shows his exalted character, power and 
authority, as an originator of events. “ His feet as pillars of fire,” 
shows that he is supported and his work upheld by the centrifugal 
and centripetal power of God. He was a “ mighty ” angel. Possibly 
this is “ Michael,” who is the angel prince of the nation of Israel, as 
his sayings are ordered sealed up. Dan. 12 : 1-4. 

2 . And he had in his hand a little hook open : and 
he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on 
the earth. 

2. After the sixth seal was opened “it was to hurt the earth and 
the sea.” Rev. 7 : 2. Here the sixth trumpet has been sounded upon 
the unregenerate race, and the angel stands upon the sea and earth. On 
the first occasion the twelve tribes of Israel were sealed ; on this occa- 
sion the utterances of the angel are to be sealed. The acts here pre- 
sented occupy to the trumpets the same relationship that the scenes of 
chapter 7 do to the seals. And since that scene showed us the recep- 
tion of the redeemed into heaven, we may infer this hidden scene was 
the presentation of the reception of sinners into the abode of evil, the 
scenes of which are to be sealed up and blotted out from disfiguring 
earth or heaven. The little book in his hand is the book of Satan’s 
purposes, in opposition to the book of God’s purpose, hid under the 
seven seals. This is the history of sin, during the age of Transforma- 
tion. 

3. And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion 
roaretli: and when he had cried, seven thunders ut- 
tered their voices. 

4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their 
voices, I was about to write : and I heard a voice from 
heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things w hich the 
seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 


39 


3. The angel “cried.” It was a cry. No song of gladness, but 
grief was here. “ A loud voice a great wail. But it was more, “as 
when a lion roareth,” filled with anger and defiance for that for which 
the cry was uttered. Sin, a sad thing, but a thing to be punished and 
destroyed. “Seven thunders.” Peals of wrath and condemnation. 
Utterances against sin and all who are identified with it. As before 
stated these seven utterances of judgment are sealed. 

5. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea 
and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, 

O. And sware by him that liveth for ever and 
ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein 
are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, 
and the sea, and the things which are therein, that 
there should he time no longer: 

7 . But in the days of the voice of the seventh 
angel, w hen he shall begin to sound, the mystery of 
God should he finished, as he hath declared to* his 
servants the prophets. 

4. “ There should he time no longer.” Time is a succession of 
events, one thing following after enough. Motion is necessary to time. 
Things must move, and change take place, for time to be in existence. 
But the Seventh Spirit of God is rest. When he shall sound, then rest 
not motion shall rule, and time of necessity passes away. At the center 
things do not pass by, as they do at any given point of the circumfer- 
ence, but remain ever before it. All things remain constantly before 
God. Times and seasons bring no changes into the heaven of heavens. 
In the succession of events, bringing one thing to view after another, 
is the mystery of God, which shall be all done away with when the 
seventh trumpet sounds. When we shall have arrived at the center, 
and can see all things before us, then we shall understand all things 
plainly, and there will be no mystery to it, for -us, any longer. Then 
again, this phrase of “ time no longer,” refers to the reckoning in the 
time of prophecy of the events of Israelitish history. This period will 
close up the time of prophecy. See notes on chapter 1 1 . 

8. And the voice which I heard from hea ven spake 
unto me again, and said, Go, and take the little hook 
which is open in the hand of the angel which standetli 
upon the sea and upon the earth. 

!). And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, 
Give me the little hook. And he said unto me, Take 
it, and eat it up ; and it shall make thy belly hitter, 
hut it shall he in thy mouth sweet as honey. 

10. And I took the little hook out of the angel’s 
hand, ami ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as 
honey: and as soon as I had eaten it my belly was 
hitter. 

11. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy 
again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, 
and kings. 


40 


5. The little book was sweet as honey in the mouth. Ez. 3 : 1-3. 
So it always is in the history of sin. Eve found the forbidden fruit a 
thing to be desired. Gen. 3 : 6. But when she had eaten it it brought 
to her life much bitterness. All sin at first is sweet and we love the 
taste of it, but its after consequences are, also, always unpleasant. 
Digesting it is bitter. When sin has come into possession of our life 
it works us mischief and harm. The words of God’s book of purposes 
are always sweet to him who obeys them (Ps. 119: 103), but they 
work bitterness when disobeyed, as Israel found out. Ez. 3 : 4 to 4 : 17. 

6. This angel stands “upon the sea and upon the land.” The phrase 
is repeated and is significant. This is the angel of the division time, the 
terrible time joining the seasons of Transformation and Regeneration. 
The four seasons Creation, Transformation, Regeneration and Spirit- 
ualization, are in their characteristics symbolized, respectively, in the air, 
water, earth and fire. This angel stands with one foot upon the wafer 
or sea, and the other upon the earth or land. He, and his mission, has 
to do half and first with Transformation, and half and last, with Regen- 
eration. The time of Transformation is aptly personified in the unsta- 
ble and ever changing sea, while the firm solid earth tells of the 
stability and certainty of the season of Regeneration. 


CHAPTER XI. 

1. In this chapter is set before us briefly the period of Transform- 
ation, with mention of the seven years of terrible times dividing be- 
tween the sea and land — the period of Transformation and Regeneration 
— upon both of which the feet of the angel of the last chapter rested. 
After which, with the peal of the seventh trumpet, the period of Regen- 
eration is ushered in. 

1. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: 
and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the 
temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship 
therein. 

2 . Rut the court which is without the temple, 
leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the 
Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot 
forty and tw o months. 

2. John is directed to ’measure the temple, “the altar, and them 
that worship therein.” But he is enjoined to omit the court of the 
Gentiles. And in all the unfulfilled prophecy respecting Israel, the 
period from the final abandonment of Palestine by the Jews in the 
seventh century (reckon from A. D. 637) for 1260 years (v. 3), must be 
considered as a cipher. This period is the “Times of the Gentiles,” 
during which God has ceased to deal with Israel as His people. Luke 
21 : 24. This interregnum of forty-two months or 1260 days, which is 
prophetic measure for 1260 years (see Num. 14: 34; Ez. 4: 5-6), comes 
to an end in 1897, A. D., as will be more fully commented upon in 
chapter 12. 


4 


THE TWO WITNESSES. 

3. And I will give power unto my two witnesses* 
ami they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and 
threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 

3* The “ two witnesses ” are the forces of God — centrifugal and 
centripetal — the spirit operating externally and internally. They re- 
side in the persons of saints, male and female. The male presenting 
the centrifugal, and the female the centripetal. The Spirit of God is 
the one active power in all the world, and is twofold, outward and in- 
ward. These two forces testify of God, not only during this 1260 years 
of Gentile supremacy, but through all time. The peculiarity of their 
testimony during Gentile rule is that they are “clothed in sackcloth ” 
for that period. Do they mourn for the Israelite through whom they 
can more clearly express themselves than it is possible for them to do 
through the Gentile? “ In sackcloth;” partly hid, only dimly recog- 
nized ; their testimony cannot be as clear as through Israel. 

4. These are the two olive-trees, and the two can- 
dlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 

4. “ These are the two olive , trees. Zech. 4 : 1-5, 11-14. They 
supplied the seven-lamped candlestick, which we have seen represented 
the Seven Spirits of God, with the oil, the Holy Spirit, or life of God, 
emptying “ the golden oil out of themselves.” They stand on each side 
of the Seven Spirits to feed them with living force. “These are the 
two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” These 
two powers of God were symbolized by the two pillars Solomon set up 
at the entrance to his temple, Jachin, “ He shall establish,” and 
Boaz, “In it is strength.” 1 Kings 7 : 15-22, 41-42. These are the pil- 
lars of the earth, and God “hath set the world upon them.” 1 Sam. 2 : 8. 

These are the two cherubim upon the ark facing the mercy seat, 
where God dwelt in the temple. Ex. 25: 18-20. They are the 
two tables of stone upon which the law was written by the 
finger of God. They are the makers of the law, or through the 
Seven Spirits, they produce that method of operation which domi- 
nates all things. Deut. 5 : 22; Ex. 32 : 15-16; 31: 18; 34: 1,4-29; 
Ex 21 : 1 to 28 : 43,; 29 : 1 to 31 : 13. These are the two mountains 
of brass, from between which the “ four living creatures” came forth 
into existence, and from whom all forms on earth have been born. 
Zech. 6 : 1-8. 

5. And If any man will hurt them, tire proceedeth 
out of their mouth, and devouretli their enemies: and 
if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be 
killed. 

6. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain 
not in the days of their prophecy: and have power 
over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the 
earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 


42 


5. As the two witnesses in sackcloth, during the gospel age of the 
Gentiles, the 1260 years in which Israel is absent from Jerusalem, we 
have the men and the women of the Christian church ; or the truth of 
God taught through and by them. The power of miracle-working was 
given the apostles and their followers, and practiced by Peter and John 
and others. And especial protection was given them. Paul shook off 
the deadly viper and felt no harm. Acts 28 : 3-6. And if any drink 
any deadly thing it should not harm them. Mark 16: 18. If any 
would not receive them they were commanded to shake off the dust 
from their feet and it should be more tolerable for Sodam, etc., in the 
day of judgment. Matt. 10: 14-15. But it was out of their mouths, 
by the word of Jesus which they spoke, that their enemies were de- 
stroyed, by the conquering truth. They heaped coals of fire upon 
their enemies heads, by returning good for evil. Prov. 25: 21-22; 
Rom. 12 : 20. Their sword is the word of God. 

7 . And when they shall have finished their testi- 
mony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless 
pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome 
them, and kill them. 

8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of 
the great city, which spiritually is called 8odom and 
Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 

6. The beast is the fleshly nature of man — see chapter 13. The end 
of the Churchs’ testimony, ladened with God’s truth, is, I think about 
1897, A. D., when Laodicea shall be spewed out. Then the animal 
nature in man shall prove too strong for Christian truth ; and the truth, 
and the whisperings of conscience, shall be killed ; they shall lie 
quietly in the mind — the street where every one beholds their dead 
forms. This city of worldly and wicked society — the society of the 
man of flesh — is called Sodom, and Egypt and also Babylon — see chapter 
17. By society , where the dead forms of religious truths were upheld 
and worshipped, Christ was also crucified. Not by the offscouring of 
earth, but by the hands of those who were leaders in the Jewish world, 
Christ was slain. 

9. And they of the people, and kindreds, and 
tongues, and nations, shall see their dead bodies three 
days and an half, anil shall not suffer their dead bodies 
to he put in graves. 

10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall re- 
joice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts 
one to another; because these two prophets tormented 
them that dwelt 011 the earth. 

7. The dead bodies — the empty forms of conscience and spiritual 
teachings — shall lie in the street 3)4 years (prophetic “days”), and 
the nation and people shall not suffer these bodies to be buried, these 
forms to be abolished, for they wish to delude themselves into the be- 
lief that they have the real thing, and that that which they have lost 
out of them is but superstition. They love to think that it is a matter 


43 


ot education, and rejoice that the “ superstition,” as they call it, that 
used to trouble them, is dead. Once twinges of conscience; and the 
light of gospel truth troubled, and tormented them ; but now those 
voices are stilled ; they are tormented no more. Because of the stilling 
of those voices they now rejoice and send each other gifts, and make 
merry. During this three and a half years the Christ teachings are not 
heard. 

1 1 . And after three days and an half the Spirit of 
life from God entered into!them, and they stood upon 
their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw 
them. 

12 . And they heard a great voice from heaven, 
saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended 
up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld 
them. 

8. But at the end of the three and one-half years comes the res- 
urrection of the church and the peoples of earth that see the reani- 
mated and living forms of God’s truth ascending up to heaven, have 
their illusion dispelled. The dead forms vanish, clothed with life in 
the Church, caught up to heaven in a cloud, i Thess. 4 : 13-17. 

IS. And the same hour was there a great earth- 
quake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the 
earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and 
the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the 
God of heaven. 

14. The second woe is past; and heliold, the third 
woe cometh quickly. 

9. In a short time after the Church leaves the earth, and even 
the form of God’s truth is taken away, there comes that great upheaval 
of society, by which the city Babylon is destroyed, to which we have 
already referred (comments, chapter 6: 12-17), and which is further 
noted in chapter 16. 

Thus the second woe passes in hell, and on earth. 


15. And the seventh angel sounded; ami there 
were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of 
this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and 
of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

10. The seventh angel sounds his trumpet and the age of Trans- 
formation is at an end. Sin is done away with. The kingdoms of this 
present world are no more, but all have “ become the kingdoms of our 
Lord and His Christ ; and He shall reign forever and ever.” Dan. 7: 27. 

10. And the four and tw enty elders, which sat be- 
fore God 011 their seats, fell upon their faces, and w or- 
shipped God, 


44 


17. Saying’, We give thee thanks, O Lord God 
Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; be- 
cause thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and 
hast reigned. 

11. This crowning and closing act of the age of Transformation 
evokes praise in heaven. The four and twenty elders glorify God. 
No more shall the power on earth be divided and the will of selfishness 
rule. Satan’s sway is at an end. God is the only ruler. 

18. And the nations w ere angry, and thy wrath is 
come, and the time of the dead, that they should he 
judged, and that thou sliouldest give reward unto thy 
servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that 
fear thy name, small and great; and sliouldest destroy 
them which destroy the earth. 

12. Here is briefly pictured the third woe — that bottomless portion 
of the pit beneath sheol — were things that defile and blemish earth or 
heaven, are “ destroyed.” Here all that drops downward from sheol is 
annihilated in the lake of fire — the second death. Rev. 20: 14 ; 21 : 8. 

10. And the temple of God w as opened in heaven, 
and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testa- 
ment: and there were lightnings, and voices, and 
thun derings, and an earthquake, and great hail. 

13. The temple of God is reopened — the Israelite is again the 
chief work of God on earth. Again appears the ark of the testament ; 
and there appear, once more, all the forces of God marshalled for 
Israel. This verse properly belongs to the next chapter. 

With this chapter ends the historical order of events during the 
present world or age of Transformation. 


CHAPTER XII. 

THE WOMAN ISRAEL. 

We now have presented to us in the rest of Revelation a few 
graphic pictures of the most important truths and their manifesting 
facts, which belong to the present time and near future. The first of 
these pictures is of the woman Israel. 

1. And there’ appeared a great wonder in heaven; 
a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her 
feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 

1. The woman Israel has twelve stars to her crown, representing 
the twelve tribes. She is clothed with the sun, for from Israel has 
come forth the religious light of the world. Beside her all other 
sources of religion have been distant and dim stars. From Israel 
came Christ, the Sun of righteousness. That which has made the 
noblest and most resplendent character has originated on earth in 


45 


Israel. The Israelite of old subordinated his worldly occupations to 
his religious convictions. With Israel the belief and worship of God 
has been placed above the affairs of .this life. This is expressed by the 
moon being under the feet of the woman. 

2 . And she being with child cried, travailing in 
hirtli, and pained to he delivered. 

2. Israel of the past is now, and ever will be, chiefly notable for 
having given birth to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what reference 
is made to by the second verse. 

3. And there appeared another wonder in heaven ; 
and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and 
ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 

3. This great red dragon represents Satan, or the Devil, v. 9. His 
having seven heads shows that his life and works are governed by the 
Seven Spirits of God, as truly as those of every other creature, and the 
heads are crowned. Dominion has been given to him, and he has 
exercised rule on earth, and also in heaven, v. 7. It should be remem- 
bered that the operation of the Seven Spirits in the works of Satan 
have been evil, because of the evil will of Satan by which the work or 
act is prompted.. The knife that cuts into the human body, under the 
hand of the surgeon, is by reason of the same principle or spirit, as 
the knife that slays a man in the hand of the murderer. The first act 
may be from good motives, while the last is from evil motives. The 
evil lies not in the act, but in the motive which prompts it. The 
Seven Spirits, in the rule of Satan, presents to us the misuse of God's 
powers, and the moral wrong lies in the will which they serve, which is 
the evil will of the Devil. 

4. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of 
heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon 
stood before the woman which was ready to he de- 
livered, for to devour her child as soon as it was horn. 

4. The third part of the stars of heaven, cast to earth, signifies 
that a third of the host or beings of heaven were drawn out after 
Satan. As outgoing from heaven’s central source brings everything 
to the realm of matter or earth, to the periphery where form is; so 
this spiritual essence became earthly. These spiritual ones have been 
chained, or bound in the dark condition of earth (Jude 6 ; 2 Pet. 2: 4), 
reserved unto the everlasting fire prepared for them. Matt. 25 : 41. 
The material things and elements may be composed of this substance, 
ejected from heaven. This Devil in the heart of Herod (Matt. 2 : 1- 
8, 12-16) sought to devour the child Jesus “as soon as it was born.” 

5. And she brought forth a man child, who was to 
rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was 
caught up unto God, and to His throne. 

5. But Jesus was caught up from Mount Olives “unto God and to 
His throne” (Rev. 3 : 21), and removed from the reach of Satan’s power. 


4 6 


This son of Israel is spoken of, not as one ruling, but as one “who 
was to rule all nations.” The time of this promised rule is the Millen- 
nium. His rule of which will be exceeding firm, “with a rod of 
iron.” Rev. 2 : 27. There will be no uncertainty or laxness about 
that government. 

O. Anti the woman lied into the wilderness, where 
she hath a place prepared of God, that they should 
feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore 
days. 

6. And the woman Israel “fled” forth from Palestine, the glorious 
land, leaving it completely and finally in the seventh century. She 
fled into the “ wilderness,” that is, a place beyond the recognized area of 
the civilized world, all of which was looked upon as being embraced in 
the Roman empire. Here “they should feed her” twelve hundred and 
sixty years, the time of the Gentiles, when they should be the pos- 
sessors of the holy city — Jerusalem. Rev. 11 : 2, 3. 

7. And there was war in heaven : Michael and his 
angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon 
fought and his angels, 

8. And prevailed not; neither was their place 
found any more in heaven. 

7. This scene presents the triumph of the centripetal over the 
centrifugal in heaven. The result was the expulsion of the centrifugal 
from heaven into the outer realm of existence — the material universe. 
Spirit centrifugally directed is matter. Out of this “waters” of living 
matter (Gen. 1 : 2) Jesus, the Word of God, has molded the sun, moon 
and stars with all their parasites of animals and plants. 

9. And the great dragon was cast out, that old 
serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth 
the w hole w orld : he was cast out into the earth, and 
his angels were cast out with him. 

10. And 1 heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 
Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom 
of our God, and the pow er of his Christ : for the ac- 
cuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused 
them before our God day and night. 

8. Here is more fully expressed the expulsion of the accusing 
power ol the Devil from before God. Satan, the spirit of evil, has 
deceived the inhabitants of the world ever since Adam and Eve ; and 
in heaven has continually accused them before God, moving Him to 
work against them. Job 1 : 6 to 2 : 7. The centrifugal power has 
been sovereign of the operation of the Seven Spirits, and is so 
crowned for the first half of the whole* period of existence. See The 
Law, given in comment 5, chapter 1. 

11. And they overcame him by the blood of the 
Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they 
loved not their lives unto the death. 


47 


g. But Satan and his centrifugal power, which is selfishness, has 
been overcome by “the blood of the Lamb,” which is self-sacrifice; 
and by those teachings of Christ and doctrines of love, which have 
brought the centripetal Holy Spirit into rule over the hearts and lives 
of men. 

12 . Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that 
dwell in them. Woe to the inliabiters of the earth 
and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, 
having* great wrath, because he know eth he hath but 
a short time. 

10. This refers especially to those terrible times with which the 
present age closes, and which occurs after the resurrection of the 
church, to which we have already referred. Chapter 6 : 12-17. By the 
ascension of the church to heaven the centripetal force is congregated 
there, and Satan loses all power there. But on earth, the church with- 
drawn, leaves full opportunity for evil. The withdrawal of the centri- 
petal army leaves a vacuum into which the centrifugal forces of Satan 
may rush with overwhelming power. “Short time” — the time of the 
earthquake — a few years. Rev. 11: 13; 16: 1-21. 

IS. And when the dragon saw that he was cast 
unto the earth, he persecuted the w oman w hich brought 
forth the man child. 

11. This casting to the earth refers to Satan’s expulsion from 
standing before God, v. 7, 8, and occurred when Christ was on earth. 
Matt. 10: 18; Jno. 12: 31. It was Christ, while on earth, who con- 
quered Satan and established in heaven the centripetal as sovereign in 
place of the centrifugal. This now became- heaven’s idea for mani- 
festation on earth. Since the time of Christ love has gradually ex- 
tended its sway, and is the true sovereign of earth to-day. Love is the 
centripetal power. Satan, limited to earth, began the persecution of 
the woman Israel. Note the persecution of the Jews from the seventh 
century unto this day. 

14. And to the w oman were given tw o wings of a 
great eagle, that she might tiy into the w ilderness, into 
her place, w here she is nourished for a time, and times, 
and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 

12. “Two wdngs of a great eagle.” In this I see the United 
States of America, the final and prepared resting-place lor the woman 
Israel during her absence from her own land. These wings were 
plucked from the “British Lion” (Dan. 7 : 4), which was her earlier 
resting-place in the wilderness. The woman Israel, I believe, has been 
gathered, with representatives of all her tribes, in America, and there 
awaits the time for the return to the “glorious land.” Dan 11: 41. 
Many Jews have been gathered here, where they have found for the 
first time, real peace and comfort. These are the descendants of the 
kingdom of Judah. The kingdom of Israel, which embraced the other 
ten tribes, went into Assyria, into captivity, more than a hundred years 
before the Babylonian captivity of Judah, and have never been heard 


48 


of since. The ten tribes are the lost sheep of Christ. Matt, io: 6 ; 
John io : 16. There is good reason for believing that the descend- 
ants of these ten tribes are to be found among the Anglo-Saxon 
races, and that representatives of the tribes constituted the pilgrims 
and puritans who settled in New England, and have since dominated 
the American Republic. 

1 5. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water 
as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to 
he carried away of the flood. 

16. And the earth helped the woman; and the 
earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood 
which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 

17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, 
and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, 
which keep the commandments of God, and have the 
testimony of Jesus Christ. 

13. The flood which Satan cast out after the woman, consists of 
the enemies which £arly sought to root out the puritans, and later the 
flood of immigration of the off-scouring and criminals of Europe, 
which flowed into America, together with the chosen people. But the 
earth has opened up in vast territories of unoccupied land, in our west, 
which have swallowed up these hosts, so that our great country could 
properly absorb them. Thus the danger from these dangerous ser- 
vants of Satan has been averted by our common schools and honest 
industry. The dragon has also afflicted and warred with the remnant 
remaining in Europe. 

14. The Bible, especially the Old Testament, has a great many un- 
fulfilled prophecies relating to the return of Israel as a nation to her 
own land. As these have not yet been fulfilled they must yet come to 
pass. See Jer. 2: 9, 13, 29, 35; 3: 12-14; Zech. 8: 3, 6-9, 14, 15, 23; 
Is. 11 : 10-12; 66: 19, 20; 49: 5-8, 14-16,. 22; Hos. 1: 9-1 1 ; Ezekiel, 
chapters 36, 37, etc. 

15. Never, since the time of Solomon, which was prior to the utter- 
ance of these prophecies, have the twelve tribes been united into one 
nation. In Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther and the New Testament occurs no 
mention of any Israelite, then living, other than of the tribes of Judah, 
Eevi and Benjamin, who formed the kingdom of Judah. The name 
Jew was applied to citizens of this kingdom, and never to a citizen of 
the ten tribes. But 42360 (Ezra 2* 64) Jews returned from the Babylo- 
nian captivity; more than that number have gone to Palestine during the 
past 1 5 years. Yet in the return of Israel, of which we speak, and which is 
called “the second time,” all the tribes are to become one nation. Ez. 
37 : 15-19. And instead of being a little insignificant affair like Ezra’s 
return it will be a more remarkable event than the coming up out of 
Egypt, under Moses. Jer. 23: 7, 8. 

The date when the measuring of the temple (chapter 1 1 : 1) is contin- 
ued, or the temple is opened (Rev. 1 1 : 19), or when the dealings of God 
with Israelis resumed is believed to be A. D. 1897. The twelve hun- 


49 


dred and sixty years of the woman Israel’s absence from Jerusalem 
begins with the placing of the “abomination that maketh desolate.’* 
Dan. ii : 31 ; 12:5-11. See “False Prophet,” under chapter 13. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

THE BEAST. 

1. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a 
beast rise up out of the sea, having; seven heads and 
ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon 
his heads the name of blasphemy. 

2 . And the beast which I saw was like unto a 
leopard, and his feet w ere as the feet of a hear, and his 
mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave 
him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 

3. And I saw one of his heads as it were w ounded 
to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all 
the world wondered after the beast. 

4. And they w orshipped the dragon which gave 
power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, 
saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to 
make w ar w ith him ? 

5. And there was given unto him a mouth speak- 
ing great things and blasphemies: and power was 
given unto him to continue forty and tw o months, 

6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against 
God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and 
them that dw ell in heaven. 

7. And it was given unto him to make war with 
the saints, and to overcome them: and power was 
given him over all kindreds, and tongues and nations. 

8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall wor- 
ship him, whose names are not written in the hook of 
life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the 
world. 

0. If any man have an ear, let him hear. 

10. He that leadetli into captivity shall go into 
captivity: he that killeth with the sword must he 
killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the 
faith of the saints. 

1. The beast is a figure of speech used to personate fleshly man. 
When Adam fell from the spiritual to the animal plane, man became, 
in Bible language, “ the beast” Under Satan’s rule man entered upon 
a retrograde movement. Animal passions, appetites and desires dom- 
inated his life. Satan’s law for fallen man was unrestrained self-desire 
and indulgence. When the animal nature is the ruling power in man 


50 


he is the beast. When the governing passion is to eat, drink, dance, 
wear fine apparel, engage in all manner of sports, and do those things 
which delight and minister to the animal in us, then we are “the beast.” 

2. The sea out of which the beast rose is humanity. “The waters 

which thou sawest * * * * are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, 

and tongues.” Rev. 17 : 5. For the beast is a multitude and not an 
individual. It embraces all of mankind in the animal body, with the 
appetites and demands thereof. Power has been given the beast “over 
all kindreds, and tongues and nations, v. 7. “And the dragon,” who 
is Satan, as named in the last chapter, “gave him his power, and his 
seat, and great authority,” v. 2. “And all the world wondered after 
the beast.” “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, 
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb,” v. 8. 
The world to-day serves and worships the beast, and ministers to his 
desires. For what is your commerce ; for what the daily struggle of 
life ; your manufactories, your stores, your offices, your railroads, your 
ships and your public works ; the bustle, and hurry, and fever of life ; 
but to feed, and clothe, and house, and amuse this animal man ? Some- 
times he is forced to be content with dry crusts, but the effort of his 
devotees is to spread the sumptuous feast before him. He is some- 
times clothed in cheap raiment, but the attempt of his slaves is to cover 
him with rich apparel and bedeck him with jewels. Often he dwells in 
hot close houses ; but his worshipers love to house him in luxurious 
palaces, amid cool gardens, beguiled by siren music, and ministered to by 
every carnal pleasure. The inhabitants of the earth are expending 
their lives ministering to the beast. 

3. Every being has a head, where the spirit that animates it sits 
•enthroned. Every nation has its ruler, who exercises authority over 
it. Peoples and multitudes are controlled by principles which rule 
them. The dragon (chapter 12) had seven heads and so has the beast, 
to whom he gave his seat and power. These seven heads are inter- 
preted to John as meaning seven mountains and also as seven kings. 
Rev. 17 : 9-10. In fact they represent the Seven Spirits of God (see 
chapter 12, comment 3), who govern and control the life of the beast, 
the same as they have done with all existence. The spirit which 
has worked through the beast being that of Satan, the evil one, 
-the government of the beast has been evil. Now under the rulership 
of the fourth head — Limitation — the animal nature is housed in many 
animal bodies. This head of the beast is constantly being wounded to 
.death, v. 3. The human animals are dying, wounded to death ; more 
than sixty per minute throughout the world. These go down into the 
grave, the bottomless pit. But the wound of the beast is healed. He 
ascends out of the bottomless pit. Rev. 17: 8. From the formless 
realm come baby forms to replenish the ranks of the fallen. Babies 
are being born to the human race by the hundred a minute. Animal 
bodies are pouring forth in numbers eveaj greater than the dying. So 
the beast that was is overtaken of death, and is not ; and yet, through 
birth, ever is, for he ascends out of the bottomless pit. “Upon his 
heads the name * of blasphemy.” The seven kings which rule the 
beast are the powers of God misused, hence they have the name of 


5 


blasphemy. It is blasphemy to misuse God’s gifts. There are no 
powers but of God whereby man or beast can do anything. When, 
then, we use these powers for our own selfish ends we are worship- 
ing the works of the beast. 

4. The oppressors of the followers of Christ — the saints — are the 
followers of the beasts. "The followers of the beasts are also character- 
ized by oaths, obscene language. God hears, and the day of reckoning 
will come. The end of the beast is to be at that terrible time of which 
we speak further on. 

5. ‘'The beast” not only signifies the typical man' on the animal 
plane. It further presents man to us in organized political bodies, 
nations, governments, a collective people ; a form shaped out of the 
sea of humanity, with definite limits, and a history. Daniel saw four 
great beasts rise out of the sea. Dan. 7 : 3-7. John saw but one. 
Rev. 13 : 1. The first three of Daniel had in John’s time become 
merged into the fourth dreadful beast. But all the characteristics of 
Daniel’s four beasts are found in John’s one. By this means we see that 
the beastly nature is not changed, and the two prophecies are identi- 
fied with each other. John’s beast (v. 2) had the characteristics of the 
leopard, bear and lion of Daniel. 

Four universal empires have arisen amidst the direct descendents 
of fallen Adam, and each in turn has extended its dominion and author- 
ity over the enlightened world. Dan. 7 : 17, 23. The history of these 
empires is the history of the main trunk of the tree of man. This his- 
tory has been especially preserved to us by God as it marks man’s 
advancement in this world ; and relates the events which have gone to 
make up the governing and characteristic power of each succeeding age. 

The first empire was the Babylonian-Assyrian, extending from the 
-confusion of tongues at Babel (Gen. 11 : 9) to its overthrow by the 
Medes. 'See the seventh and eight chapters of Daniel. It is represented 
by a lion, which was the beast of prey which its kings loved to hunt ; 
and which was very extensively used for architectual effect and orna- 
mentation in its palaces. In palace decoration it was often used as a 
winged lion with a man’s head. Thus was expressed the lion-like 
character of their kings. By the plucking of the eagle’s wings and 
giving a man’s heart to it, is expressed the transforming effect which 
God wrought upon Nebuchadnezzer, the greatest monarch of this realm. 
See Daniel, chapter 4. In the days of Nebuchadnezzer this empire 
reached the zenith of its glory and power; and his capital city of Babylon, 
perhaps the greatest city the earth as yet seen, became the synonym for 
wealth, society and the pleasures of the world. This empire lasted 
about 1700 years. 

6. The second universal empire was the Medo-Persian and is 
typified by the bear so common to the country where these tribes of 
men originated. It raised itself up on one side. Its conquests were 
all to the westward of its birthplace, spreading south and north also as 
it enlarged. Its universal rule dates from the conquest of Babylon by 
Cyrus, and extends to its fall before the Greek-Macedonians under 
Alexander the Great. This empire is further symbolized by a ram 
with two horns (Dan. 8 : 2, 3, 4, 20 ; 11 : 1, 2) of which one, the high- 


* 


52 


est, came up last, signifying the fact that the Persian power, which was 
grafted onto the Medan, became the greater of the two, and the ruling 
house. The palace, or capital, was in Shushan in Persia. After its 
conquest of Babylon it lasted about two hundred years, to B. C. 331. 

7. The third empire was the Greek. It is symbolized by the 
sagacious and graceful leopard. Dan. 7:6. It had its beginning back 
amid the mists of antiquity. Its religion and learning was largely 
brought from Egypt, and contains the gems of that earlier civilization, 
so that it may be considered the successor of it. More than any other 
of the ancient people it has stamped its thought upon the peoples of 
the world. It obtained its universal sway under Alexander the Great 
in the fourth century before Christ (331 B. C.) ; although its colonies 
had already been planted throughout the civilized quarters of the 
earth. Under Alexander this empire is further personated as a goat. 
Dan. 8: 5-8, 21. Alexander completely destroyed the Medo-Persian 
empire and established his own upon its ruins, making Babylon his 
capital But when Alexander waxed very great he suddenly died, by 
debauchery, and his empire was divided to four of his generals. This 
division of the empire is expressed by the four horns of the goat which 
came up in place of the one notable horn, and by the four heads of the 
leopard. 

8. The fourth universal empire was the Roman. To Daniel, a 
dreadful beast and strong exceedingly. To John the one beast into- 
which the three beasts, that had passed away, had poured their char- 
acteristics. Rome was founded, presumably, 753 B. C. From a 
small beginning it extended its sway over all the then known world. 
It had iron teeth ; its force was merciless. The Roman Empire, from 
the standpoint of the beast, was the mightiest that earth has known, 
and lasted more than two thousand years. Its eastern limb fell with 
the capture of Constantinople, May 29, 1453. Its western limb con- 
tinued, through the temporal rule of the Roman Pontiff, until the en- 
trance of Victor Emanuel into Rome, Sept. 20, 1870. During the 
later centuries, of both limbs, the power exercised over the world was 
chiefly religious ; the eastern empire embodying the Greek Church, 
and the western, the Roman Catholic Church. In this respect the 
fourth beast was notably diverse from those which had preceded it. 
Dan. 7 : 23. Now the ten horns of this beast (Dan* 7 : 7, 24 ; Rev. 
13: 1 ; 17: 3, 12, 16), were ten kingdoms that came up out of the 
Roman Empire after John’s time, and are the nations of to-day. Horns 
in the Bible represent power, and what we sometimes call in our 
time, “The great powers,” are the ten nations here represented. Rome 
has bequeathed the characteristics of her beasthood to these nations of 
to-day, so that we speak of the English lion and the Russian bear. 
See chapter 1 7 for comments on these nations of to-day. 

9. In Daniel, chapter 2: 31-35, we have the history of these four 
beasts in the form of an image of a man. This image presents to us 
the government which the worldly wisdom of mankind has built up. 
Here is given graphically and briefly the history of the governments 
which have existed under the beast. And this history flows down 
from the head, or source, to the feet. As the flood of human kind 


53 


flowed down through time, each part has shaped, and left its por- 
tion of the image fully formed until, at the end, the whole structure 
stands complele in the toes, for you and me to gaze upon. 

The head of gold was Babylonia (Dan. 2 : 37-38), the breast and two 
arms of silver was the Medo-Persian empire, the belly and sides of 
brass was the Grecian (Dan. 2: 39), the legs of iron were the two 
Roman empires (Dan. 2 : 40), and the feet and toes as the ten horns of 
the beast, are the nations of to-day. Dan. 2 : 41-43. 

10. It should be noted that this image was not destroyed where 
Christ came to earth before, which was before the parting into the two 
limbs representing the eastern and western empires of Rome, but it is 
•destroyed by the stone falling upon the feet. Dan. 2 : 34. The nations of 
to-day are the ones which are doomed. It should be noted that this great 
image of the beast was in the form of the human animal. Its bright- 
ness was excellent, signifying its intellectual light and glory ; its form 
very terrible, signifying its physical power. 

THE FAESE PROPHET. 

11. And 1 beheld another beast com ing ii|> out of 
the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he 
spake as a dragon. 

12 . And he exercisetli all the power of the first 
beast before him, and eauseth the earth and them 
which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose 
deadly wound was healed. 

13. And he doeth great wonders, so that he inaketh 
tire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight 
of men, 

14. And deceiveth them that dwell 011 the earth 
by the means of those miracles which he had power 
to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that 
dw ell on the earth, that they should make an image to 
the beast, w hich had the w ound by a sw ord, and did 
live. 

15. And he had pow er to give life unto the image 
of the beast, that the image of the beast should both 
speak, and cause that as many as w ould not w orship 
the image of the beast should be killed. 

10. And he eauseth all, both small and great, rich 
and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their 
right hand, or in their foreheads; 

17 . And that no man might buy or sell, save he 
that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the 
number of his name. 

18. Here. is wisdom, l.et him that hath under- 
standing count the number of the beast; for it is the 
number of a man; and his number is six hundred 
threescore and six. 


54 


1. This beast represents worldly minded man. He is called “the 
false prophet.” Rev. 19: 20. The world, the flesh and the Devil, are 
personated by the false prophet, the beast and the dragon. These 
three are the false and wicked trinity of the spirit of evil on earth.. 
The beast represents the flesh and all the lusts thereof. 1 Jno. 2 : 15- 
18. The false prophet represents the world, with its manners, customs,, 
teachings and principles of life. The dragon came down from heaven 
(Rev. 12 : 3, 9), and is called “Prince of the power of the air.” Eph. 
2:2. The beast rose out of the sea or water. Rev. 13 : 1 ; Dan. 7: 2, 
3. And the false prophet came up out of the earth, v. n. The three 
conditions of air, water, earth, are herein represented. The first, 
Satan, is wholly governed by the centrifugal force ; the next, the beast,, 
is ruled jointly by the centrifugal and the centripetal ; and the last, the 
false prophet, is under the centripetal control. In the false prophet 
the evil becomes fixed, and becomes an inherent part of the man who* 
is its subject. The end of such is in the fourth condition of fire, which 
is the second death. 

2. The false prophet is the self confident mental nature of man. 
It has originated the principles upon which the worldly minded live. 
It teaches that wealth and possessions and an exalted place, and 
power among men, is the one thing to be sought and desired ; the doc- 
trine of materialism. “He had two horns like a lamb.” Harmless 
looking, but he spoke as a dragon, and causeth all that dwell on the 
earth to worship the beast (v. 12); teaching that the business and 
effort of life should be devoting ones self to feeding, clothing, housing 
and amusing the animal man. He makes active or “exerciseth” all 
of the power of the first beast, stirring men up to ardent efforts in the 
service of the beast. The two horns represent inventiveness or applied 
science, and politics. “And he doeth great wonders” in the service of 
the beast. Science has found out many wonderful ways in which to 
serve earthly man. Instance, the steam engine, telegraph, telephone, 
the myriad of machines invented to increase the scope of labor in 
ministering unto the animal man. The ingeunity of the human mind 
in the business of the world is marvelous. Electric lights are the fire 
from heaven. And this false prophet deceiveth men by reason of these 
miracles which he hath power to do. The electric motor, photography, 
phonograph, kinetophone, X rays and many other things which man’s, 
mind has discovered, invented and done, are miracles. 

3. The false prophet, by the wisdom of men, has caused “them 
that dwell on the earth” to organize governments and fashion into a 
national form the people of the earth. The controlling element and 
motive force in national formation, as in all operations under Satan, 
has been selfishness. Yet the world’s wisdom approves this, and kings 
and great ones have been exalted by the false teacher, over the race. 
The animal man has, of course, established governments that resemble 
himself, so that the characteristics of his national life are aptly 
expressed in the figure of an animal man. This is the image which the 
false prophet has caused man to make, and is the image which Daniel 
showed to Nebuchadnezzer, with the interpretation thereof. Dan. 2 : 
26-45. The form of human government and political organization 


55 


which prevails among men is based upon the false but ingenious theories 
and doctrines of the worldly minded. The false prophet by his domi- 
nation of the mind of man has made this image of human government 
a vital and living image, so that all who do not obey the law which this 
organized thing proclaims, the laws of the nation, are punished ; and 
any who are traitors to their government are punished with death. 
The decrees of the political machine in each age has been death to all 
who would not acknowledge its authority and fall down and worship it. 

4. The theory and use of money is based upon the teachings of 
the false prophet ; and the love of it is the root of all worldly evil. 
1 Tim. 6 : 10. Money is spoken of as a necessity. But it is the 
necessity of selfishness, not of love. If the world were filled with the 
Christ spirit of self-sacrifice , and each was more concerned with the 
comfort and well-being of others than of himself, giving to each ac- 
cording to their needs, out of his own abundance, there would be no 
use for money. But so long as Satan’s spirit of self is the governing 
principle of this world, and the chief aim is to minister to the animal, 
so long Money will be Prime Minister to the beast. In the world 
where man is esteemed and honored chiefly for his material possess- 
ions, and the principal effort of life is to get more than your neighbor, 
reputation, a good name, standing in society, power, influence, all that 
such a world most values, even the necessities for preserving life, and 
true usefulness also, will be at the command of money. To the world 
of the beast and the false prophet money is a necessity, and only he 
who has the mark of the beast — the stamp of the government — can buy 
or sell, or transact the commonest business of life. 

5. The mark of the beast in the right hand and forehead refers 
to the practice, under the teachings of the world of selfishness, of 
organizing into pools, trusts, secret societies, and guilds for the advan- 
tage of their members over others, and’ for the object of making their 
selfishness more efficient in securing what it desires. These societies 
have a secret grip in their right hands, or a ticket of admission. There 
are masons, odd fellows, trades unions, labor unions, boards of trade, 
traffic associations, political leagues, civil engineers’ clubs, and some 
secret society appropriating every avocation of life. No one may sell 
his wares or his labor who is not a member, and has the mark of the 
beast. Aside from this mark of the beast in the hand is one in the 
forehead. The forehead and countenance of a follower of the false 
prophet takes on the expiession of shrewdness, keenness and self-con- 
fidence, without which mark in the face and bearing it would be per- 
fectly useless for any man to go before the capital of to-day, and at- 
tempt to secure money for any large enterprise. No innocent, child- 
like county parson, with great sweet eyes of love, could secure a hear- 
ing, except for amusements’ sake, for getting funds for a large business 
scheme ; no, not even in the church. Or, one must have the 
“name” of the beast. A Vanderbilt, a Rothschild, the son of wealth, 
position and power, though he has not the marks and bearing of a self- 
secured position in himself, may yet, because he has the name of the 
beast — the name of one largely possessed of the beast’s treasures — 
carry on business successfully. Only sons, relatives or friends of rich 


56 


influential men, have any show in business life in the older sections of 
the country. Or one must have the number of his name — six, six, six 
— wealth, political power, social position, the treasures and knowledge 
of this world. 

6. But just as the beast represented both the typical animal man 
and also certain kingdoms which embodied the principles of the flesh, 
so the false prophet represents both the false doctrines of life, and a 
nation built up upon those false doctrines, especially as they apply to 
the moral and religious realm. This nation, pre-eminently worships 
the beast, and its very religion is sensuality. I refer to the Moham- 
medan power. Among the ten horns, or nations, which sprang up 
from amid the ruins of the Roman Empire appeared a little horn. 
Dan. 7 : 8, 20-26. At first, at the time of the hegira Mohammed 
was a very little power (of horn). But in the hands of the Saracens 
this power grew swiftly, and soon rooted up three of the ten horns — 
the countries now known as Egypt/Turkey, .and Arabia with all its 
kindred. More than a third of the former Roman territory came into 
its possession, and its power and authority extended way beyond into 
Asia, Africa and Europe, until it covered more territory than any other 
religion, and numbered, next to Buddha, the greatest nnmber of wor- 
shippers. 

7. The “little horn” in Daniel, chapter 7, has been called the • 
Pope, by some commentators ; and Satan has purposely clouded the 
human understanding to hide the truth from man. But that the false 
prophet of John is the same as the horn that had “a mouth speaking 
great things” is evident through a study of the eight chapter of Daniel. 
The false prophet “had two horns like a lamb” (v. 11) ; the ram with 
two horns (Dan. 7 : 20 — ) in the person of Medo-Persia, was overcome 
by the Goat of Greece. In the place of the Goat’s great horn Alex- 
ander stood up four horns, or kingdoms, “and in the later time of their 
kingdom,” when it ended in Roman authority in fact, stood up a king 
understanding dark sentences. This king is called by his name of a 
“little horn” in both chapters 7 and 8 of Daniel, and in both he shows 

a similarity of character. He “waxed exceeding great towards the 
south, and towards the east and towards the pleasant land” (Palestine), 
describes Mohammed, not the Pope. “He spoke great things.” “There 
is but one God, and Mohammed is his prophet.” His power was 
mighty by reason of the power in the name of the one God (Dan. 8 : 
24) which he coupled with his own. By this saying: and others of 
Mohammedanism, he magnified himself to the prince of the host of 
heaven, which is Christ. Christ is not denied by this religion, but 
Mohammed is exalted to a place above Jesus. Mohammed not only 
had a mouth speaking great things, but he also had the shrewd eyes of 
the worldly man, discerning the appetites and passions of the beast. 
He saw what motives would most mightily appeal unto the animal 
man. So he proclaimed his heaven of wine and women, which the 
faithful of Islam are promised. His heaven is all for the men, while 
woman is degraded. See Dan. 7 : 8, 1 1, 20, 21, 24, 25 ; 8 : 8-12, 22-25 >* 

11 : 1-5, 31,36,45. 


57 


8. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans under 
Titus, A. D. 70. See Luke 19 : 41-44. This was the beginning of 
•desolation in the Holy Land. Later Jerusalem was rebuilt, and a 
Christian church established where the temple once stood. But in 637 
A. D., the Mohammedans, under Omar, prevailed against the saints, 
Jerusalem was taken, a million Jews and Christians, put to death, and 
finally was taken away, “the daily sacrifice,” from which dates Moham- 
medan possession and rule. Dan. 8: 11; 9: 26, 27; 12: n. Omar 
planted the Mosque of Omar — dome of the rock — “between the seas 
in the glorious holy mountain.” Dan. 11 : 45. 

9. “I beheld and the same horn made war with the saints and 
prevailed against them.” Dan. 7: 21. This refers not only to the 
time of Omar, but also to the persecution and massacres of the Chris- 
tians in Palestine before and during the crusades. This warfare upon 
the saints is continued to-day under the sanction of the sultan, Abdul 
Hamid, in the attempted extermination of the Armenian Christians. 
This is a barbarity that would not be tolerated by the other nations of 
the earth, were they not, also, worshipers of the beast. The “sick man 
of the east” is putrid, and fills our nostrils with a bad 6dor. The most 
-corrupt govern'ment- and worst political condition of any country on 
•earth is the condition of Turkey in this year A. D. 1896. 

10. It may be observed with much satisfaction that the “little 
horn” met its overthrow. It did not continue to prosper forever, “but 
he shall be broken without hands” (Dan. 8: 25), “he shall come to his 
end and none shall help him. Dan. 11 : 45. It would be difficult to 
use the hand to destroy a doctrine or teaching. But when the beast is 
slain (Dan. 7 : 11). which has been the incarnation and support of the 
false prophecy, in the person of the Turkish government, then will 
the doctrines and practices of the Mohommedan religion pass away 
before the better conceptions of our times, as the fog of the morning 
disappears before the sun. The length of the Mohammedan reign is 
given as ‘‘a time(i) and times (2) and the dividing of time (J^). Dan. 
7 : 25. In this three and one-half we see the one-half of the complete 
round of the Seven Spirits of God; the period of their sovereign reign, 
until another form is born from their midst to succeed with its seven 
fimes, according to the one universal law. In accordance wifh the 
One Great Law, then, the false prophet (earth) should come forth from 
the midst of the beast (water). Historically this is the fact. Rome 
lasted about 72 centuries — 753 B. C. — 1870 A. D. Mohammed arose 
about 13% centuries after Rome. 

In prophetic symbolism a Jewish year consisted of 360 days, and 
•each was a time of years, or a day for a year. Num. 14: 34 ; Ez. 3 : 5-6. 
The length of time in which the saints are given into the hands of the 
little horn was a time, times, and a half,, or 1260 years. And, since 
this dates from A. D. 637 (comment 8 above), the Mohammedan power 
will be taken away from ruling over Jerusalem in A. D. 1897. Please 
note, also, that this is the time which the woman Israel is absent 
from her own land. Rev. 12: 6, 14. The beast was also given the 
same period, although called forty-two months. . Rev. 13:5. But 
“from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the 


58 


abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand 
two hundred and ninety days.” Dan. 12: 11. So in 1897 we may 
look for the fall of Turkey, and thirty years later, 1927, the end of 
the Mohammedan power. 

11. The “abomination that maketh desolate,” which the Moham- 
medan power set up, is the Koran and its religion, among the chief 
features ot which is the harem and polygamy. The whole surface of 
the earth over which Mohammedanism has spread, once fair and fruit- 
ful as a garden, has been desolated and become largely barren and 
unproductive. The degradation put upon woman fetters the race to 
the animal plane and makes both moral advancement and national civ- 
ilization an impossibility. Dan. 8 : 11 ; 9: 18, 26,27 J 11 : 31 ; 12 : 11; 
Matt. 24: 15; Mark 13: 14; Luke 21 : 20. 

12. Jesus’ words respecting this 1260 years of Mohammedan des- 
olation and rule in the “pleasant land” (Palestine), is found in Matt. 
24: 1-28 — the rest of that chapter relates to what happens “immedi- 
ately after the tribulation of those days.” Also, Mark 13 : 1-23, and 
in Luke 21 : 5-24. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

1. And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the 
mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four 
thousand, having his Father’s name written in their 
foreheads. 

2. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice 
of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: 
and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their 
harps : 

& And they sung as it were a new song before the 
throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and 
no man could learn that song hut the hundred 
and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed 
from the earth. 

4. These are they which were not defiled with 
women; for they are virgins. These are they which 
follow the Lamb whithersoever he goetli. These were 
redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto 
God and to the Lamb. 

5. And in their mouth was found no guile: for 
they are without fault before the throne of God. 

1. We have here a further picture in the history of the 144,000, 
sealed out of all Israel, who were left on earth through the terrible 
times* which close the age of Transformation, terminate the times of 
the Gentiles, and destroy the beast and false prophet. See comments, 
chapter 7. This band of redeemed ones appear with Messiah on 
Mount Zion. They are to witness on earth the overthrow of the beast 
and the false prophet and the seven last plagues' which are to be 


59 


poured upon earth. “A voice from heaven.” In heaven the multi- 
tudes of angels and saints were singing and playing on their harps. 
Rev. i : 15 ; 19: 6. And while these were singing and playing in 
heaven the hundred and forty-four thousand sang a new song before 
the throne, four beasts and elders. This is the second new song (Rev* 
5 : 9) mentioned ; and no one could sing this but the 144,000, for it 
was about what they only had experienced. They were the “first 
fruits” “unto God and to the Lamb.” They are to be the first who shall 
be perfected, and ripened into the fruit of the regenerate life, for they 
are virgins. They are to be the beginning of the Millennium on earth. 
The frosts of the terrible times shall ripen them early. 

6. And I saw another angel tty in the midst of 
heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto 
them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and 
kindred, and tongue, and people, 

7. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give 
glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is come: 
and w orship him that made heaven,* and earth, and the 
sea, and the fountains of waters. 

2. Now appears three angels in heaven. In the spirit, or inner 
sense, they shall move men to do that which they prompt. The first 
angel has the everlasting gospel to preach unto every nation, kindred, 
tongue and people. The followers of Christ shall be stirred up to 
proclaim the gospel to man as never before. This is the last witness- 
ing for the “Lamb that was slain,” “for the hour of his judgment is 
come.” This is the reason and necessity of this preaching. It is an 
urgent and last call to be saved ere it is too late. Note that it is cited 
how God made “earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water,” for it is- 
upon these three that the first three of the seven last plagues falL 
See chapter 16. 

8. Ami there followed another angel, saying, 
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because 
she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath 
of her fornication. 

3. The second angel who comes after the final proclaiming of 
the gospel pronounces the fall of Babylon, which is recited in chapter 18. 

9. And the third angel followed them, saying with 
a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and liis 
image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his 
hand. 

10. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath 
of God, which is poured out without mixture into the 
cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented 
with tire and brimstone in the presence of the holy 
angels, and in the presence of the Lamb : 

11. And the smoke of their torment ascendetli up 
for ever and ever : ami they have no rest day nor night, 
who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever 
receiveth the mark of his name. 


6o 


4. The third angel shows what shall befall the worshippers of the 
beast in that other and unseen realm, after that Babylon is fallen. In 
these verses is pictured the deepest hell, where the second death is, 
and where the beast and false prophet shall be cast. Rev. 19 : 20 ; 20 : 
10. This is the second death — annihilation. Rev. 20 : 14,15; 21: 8. 

12. Here, is the patience of the saints: here are 
they that keep the commandments of God, and the 
faith of Jesns. 

IS. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto 
me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord 
from henceforth: Yea, saitli the Spirit, that they may 
rest from their labours; and their works do follow 
them. 

14. And I looked, ami heliold, a white cloud, and 
upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, hav- 
ing on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a 
sharp sickle. 

15. And another angel came out of the temple, 
crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, 
Thrust in thy sickle, and reap : for the time is come 
for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 

16. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his 
sickle 011 the earth; and the earth was reaped. 

17 . And another angel came out of the temple 
which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 

18. And another angel came out from the altar, 
which had power over tire; and cried with a loud cry 
to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy 
sharp sickle, and gather the cl aster of the vine of the 
earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 

It). And the angel thrust in his sickle into the 
earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it 
into the great winepress of the w rath of God. 

20. And the winepress was trodden without the 
city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto 
the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six 
hundred furlongs. 

5. The rest of the. chapter tells of the judgment of the earth. 
This is what appears after the warnings of the three angels have been 
given. This is that spoken of in Matt. 25: 31-46. “Here is the 
patience of the saints,” (v. 12) is the closing declaration of the record 
of the beast (Rev. 13 : 10), and implies that that for which those souls, 
which appeared under the altar (Rev. 6 : 9-1 1 ; on the opening of the 
fifth seal, waited, is now to be accomplished. Their blood, trials and. 
persecutions are to be avenged on the kingdom of the beast. Christ 
is come to judgment upon the white cloud, v. 14. 


CHAPTER XV. 

THE SEVEN EAST PEAGUES. 

i. In chapter 13 under head of “The False Prophet,” comment- 
12, I have referred to Jesus’ words respecting the present period of 
1260 years — the “times of the gentiles.” I wish now to call to 
your attention that, according to the words of Jesus, “immediately” 
after this period ends, or immediately after A. D. 1897, comes the ter- 
rible day of the Lord, the judgment of this age. Study the following 
passages of the Bible, which refer to this time, and its events, bearing 
in mind that the “tribulation” first spoken of is the present Moham- 
medan possession of the Holy Hand; viz.: Matt. 24 : 29-51, Mark 13 : 
24-37, Euke 21 : 25-36; and in the Old Testament, Amos 8 : 9-14, Micah 
3:6, 7, Jer. 15: 9, Is. 13; 1-18; 59: 9-15; Job 5: 14. The seven 
last plagues culminate with the “great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 
16: 14. 

1. And I saw another sign in heaven, great and 
marvellous, seven angels having the seven last 
plagues: for in them is tilled up the wrath of God. 

2. The visions of John were signs of what was to happen. He 
did not see the actual event. That is reserved for us. The seven last 
plagues are filled up with the wrath of God. The day is to be cruel 
w 7 ith wrath and fierce anger, it is high time that the world should be 
punished for its evil. Is. 13 : 9, 11. 

2. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with 
tire: and them that had gotten the victory over the 
beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and 
over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, 
having the harps of (wod. 

3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of 
God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and mar- 
vellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty: just and 
true are thy ways thou King of saints. 

3. Those are seen in heaven who have “gotten the victory over 
the beast.” This indicates that the time of the reign of that beast is 
over. None stood before God, and none of our race can so stand, except 
they have overcome the flesh. These sang both the song of Moses 
and the song of the Lamb ; Christian, Jew and Gentile were gathered 
here in one adoring throng. These know and behold that God’s ways 
are just and true. They call Him “King of ages.” (Marginal reading). 

4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify 
thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall 
coine and worship before thee; for thy judgments are 
made manifest. 

4. All shall fear and glorify God, “for thy judgments are made 
manifest.” These judgments have eternally existed, but in these seven 
plagues they shall be executed or disclosed. 


62 


5. And after that I looked, and, behold, the tem- 
ple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was 
opened : 

5. These words show that Israel is restored to the leading place 
in the earth, and that God’s special dealings with them is renewed. 
See comments 2 and 13 on chapter 11. So the time of the Gentiles 
has been finished before the seven last plagues are poured out. 

6. And the seven angels came out of the temple, 
having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white 
linen, and having their breasts girdled with golden 
girdles. 

6. The seven angels came out of the temple. From that temple 
that had been opened. From the temple whose fire and spirits were 
unalterably opposed to, and in antagonism with sin and wickedness ; 
and whose force, as a fire, should consume and destroy the evil when- 
ever and wherever they came in contact with it. 

7. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven 
angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who 
livetli for ever and ever. 

7. “One of the four beasts.” This was the beast of the age of 
Transformation. The beast of the age of Regeneration had no wrath 
of God to give, for in the day of his rule on earth, the Millennium time 
to come, all shall be pure, and God’s will shall alone be done on earth. 

8. And the temple was tilled with smoke from the 
glory of God, and from 11 is power; and no man was 
able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of 
the seven angels were fulfilled. 

8. “The temple was filled with smoke,” as when Soloman dedi- 
cated his temple to God. 1. Kings 8 : 10, 11. For once more God 
was to be with men on earth, and be their God, and they were to be His 
people. But no man could enter until the plagues were fulfilled, or 
until the sin of earth had been wiped out. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

SEVEN EAST PEAGUES — CONTINUED. 

i. It should be noticed that these last plagues correspond with 
the seven evils that even now fall upon wicked men in this life, and in 
the life to come. 


Compare 

Rev. 16: 2 

V. 3. 

V. 4. 

V. 8. 

V. 10. 

V. 12. 

V. 17. 

with 

Rev. 8 : 7. 

V. 8. 

V. 10. 

V. 12. 

9: 1. 

V. 14. 

11 : 15. 

First Angel. 

Second Angel 

Third Angel. 

“Thp vnr® 

Fourth Angel 

Fifth Angel. 

Sixth Angel. 

Sev’th Angel 

“U p o n the 

‘‘The Sea.” 

and fount- 

“The Sun.” 

“The Seat of 

“River Eu- 

“It is done.” 

earth.” 


ains of wa- 
ter.” 


the Beast.” 

phrates.” 


6 3 


Correspondingly, as the woes are visited upon the souls of men 
who worship the beast in this life and in death, in a general way, 
or as an universal principle since Adam’s fall ; so is there a particular 
and final pouring out of God’s wrath upon them in these seven last 
plagues. This later pouring on of God’s wrath is especially upon the 
living, for the waters of Euphrates are dried up, v. 12. See com- 
ment 6, chapter 9. The souls ot dead men come no more back to the 
places of their crimes. After the judgment there is no more a river of 
death to flow to Babylon, and no Babylon to flow from, nor sins com- 
mitted to cause the restless movement. 

1. And I heard a great voice out of the temple 
saying to the seven angels, t»o your ways, and pour out 
the vials of the w rath of Ood upon the earth. 

2 . And the first went, and poured out his vial 
upon the earth: and there fell a noisome and grievous 
sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, 
and upon them which worshipped his image. 

2. The voice, ordering the seven pleagues poured out, is from 
the temple, hence this is after the temple is again opened. Ch. 1 1 : 19. 
The first plague was a disease — “a noisome and grievous sore.” This 
plague falls only upon those who have the mark of the beast. The 
terrible times, the day of the Eord, is the judgment of God upon the 
present world or age: upon those who worship the beast, and his 
image, the human scheme of government. These shall be grievously 
sore at heart, as well as afflicted by bodily disease, over the failures of 
their form of government to deal with the difficult questions of the 
time, such as finance, labor and capital, and international interference. 

3. And the second angel poured out his vial upon 
the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: 
and every living soul died in the sea. 

3. The second plague turned the sea into blood of a dead man — 
coagulated blood, black and thickened, not the bright blood of life. 
“And every living soul died in the sea.” These plagues, unlike the 
punishments of the wicked, which have prevailed throughout the 
present age, and in the unseen hell (see chapter 8), has power over all 
life, and not merely over a third. 

4. And the third angel poured out his vial upon 
the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became 
blood. 

5. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou 
art righteous, O Lord, which art, and w ast, and shalt 
be, because thou hast judged thus. 

fi. For they have shed the blood of saints and 
prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for 
they are worthy. 

4. The third plague turns the rivers and fountains of water into 
blood so that they had blood to drink. Ex. 7: 17-25. These last 


6 4 


plagues are foreshadowed in those visited upon Egypt, when Israel 
was brought out to be the people ot God. God at the end of these 
times of the Gentiles, is again to bring His people Israel into power, 
and these plagues, as were those of old, are upon the nations that have 
oppressed them. “The angel of the waters” is the “third” angel. 
This third plague presents an awful picture of a time of slaying, the 
rivers running with crimson blood. The beast shall be satiated with 
blood. 

7 . And I heard another out of the altar say, Even 
so Eord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy 
judgments. 

5. Another out of the altar. The fourth angel, who had not yet 
gone forth from the temple. This fourth angel limits the outpouring 
of wrath upon the visible and fleshly world. True and righteous are 
God Almighty’s judgments in all that is poured upon our planet earth. 

8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon 
the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men 
with lire. 

9. And men were scorched with great heat, and 
blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over 
these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 

6. The sun is given power to scorch men with heat. This shall 
prove to be a very grieveous plague intensifying all the previous ones. 

10. Anti the fifth angel poured out his vial upon 
the seat of the heast; and his kingdom was full of 
darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain. 

11. And blasphemed the God of heaven because 
of their pains and their sores, and repented not of 
their deeds. 

7. Now follow the plagues upon the inner and hidden life, in 
strict accordance with the law. The results of the mental anguish 
and inward plagues is manifested on earth in great disturbances and 
awful times among men. This fifth vial of wrath is poured upon the 
seat of the beast, which was Satan’s seat (Rev. 13 : 2), upon the evil 
life within, which animates all outward acts. “And his kingdom was 
full of darkness.” The life of beastly man shall fall under a cloud and 
he shall blaspheme God instead of pleading for forgiveness and mercy. 
The same story of God’s hardening Pharaoh’s heart is repeated. The 
“sores” are those mentioned as the first plague. 

12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon 
the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was 
dried up, that the ways of the kings of the east might 
be prepared. 

8. The sixth vial is poured out upon the mind realm. The river 
of dead souls is dried up. No living truth to flow through the mind 
and enlighten it. As Pharaoh, the mightiest and most enlightened 
monarch of his time, was deceived by the council of darkness[and evil ; 


65 


as Rehoboam, son of Solomon, was mislead by the council of the 
young men whose understanding was clouded by pride and selfish- 
ness (i Kings i : 12-14); and as Absalom’s wisdom, and that of his 
gifted councilor was overthrown of God (2 Sam. 17 : i-i4),so shall the 
wisdom of our age be deluded and perverted. “Kings of the east 
those who rule in Asia — Russia, England, etc. That the way may be 
prepared, refers to the bringing about of conditions and events that 
will precipitate the attempt to finally settle the “Eastern question.” 
Both England and Russia seek to secure the supremacy of power in 
Asia. Sooner or later it must be settled which one shall dictate the 
affairs of that part of the world. 

13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs 
come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the 
mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false 
prophet. 

14. For they are the spirits of devils, working 
miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth 
and of the w hole w orld to gather them to the battle of 
that great day of brod^Almighty. 

9. These spirits came out of the mouths. They are the words or 
expressed sentiments of those from whom they come. Spirit 
here is but synonomous with principle. These frogs are the 
principles by which the three forms of evil move mankind. They are 
unclean, that is evil and impure. Just before that great and terrible 
day of the Lord, and even now these spirits are at work, their senti- 
ments are being expressed. If I should name the frog from Satan’s 
mouth I should call it “Anarchy” — unadulterated wickedness. And 
that from the mouth of the beast I should call “Socialism” — sensuality, 
the fleshly pleasures and benefits of this life for the common use of all. 
And from the false prophet, “Materialism” — science as opposed to 
Christian religion. These three shall gather the pronouncedly wicked, 
the lovers of this animal life, and the learned ones together, and they 
shall be united in their opposition to God Almighty. The .“battle of 
that great day” is composed of more than one event. Indeed, the 
“great day of God Almighty” is a period of much more than twenty- 
four hours. It is a day in the sense used in the account of creation, a 
time in which a great principle is established and a governing truth 
brought to light, or as the “day in which we live,” “the day of Per- 
icles,” etc. 

15. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that 
watchetli, and keepetli his garments, lest he walk 
naked, and they see his shame. 

10. The great day of God will come unexpectedly to the world. 
Matt. 24: 42-44; Mark, 13: 33 ; Luke 21 : 36; 1 Thess. 5 : 2, 3; 2 Pet. 
3 : 10. “Blessed is he that watcheth,” etc., these shall escape. 2 Pet. 
2:9; Matt. 24 : 45-51 ; 25 : 10, 13. 


66 


THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON. 

10. And he gathered them together into a place 
called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 

11. One of the greatest events on earth during that terrible day 
of God is the battle of Armageddon. A description of this battle is 
contained in Rev. 19: 17-21. This is a physical event happening on 
earth, an actual battle, not a spiritual signification, because it is “the 
beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies,” that engage in it. 
“And the remnant” (v. 21) refers to- the judgment of Christ upon all 
others throughout the whole earth which follows this special battle in 
Palestine. 

17. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into 
the air: and there came a great voice out of the temple 
of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is clone. 

12. The seventh angel poured out his vial “into the air.” The 
air shows that the centrifugal powers are let loose, and that the wrath 
of God falls upon their hosts. “It is done.” The terrible day of God 
has come. The other six plagues but prepared for this seventh one. 
In this seventh time all the threatened danger falls, it is now that “it is 
done.” Promised, forshadowed and beheld before, it is now done, 
accomplished. 

13. Of the battle of Armageddon we have the fullest account in 
Ezekiel, chapters 38,39. This battle takes place in the valley of Jezreel, 
or Armageddon? through which theSyrio-Ottoman railroad is now build- 
ing, in northern Palestine. Israel has -returned to her own land and is 
a nation once more, when this battle takes place, Ez. 38 : 11,12. Russia, 
which is the descendant of Gog, with numerous allies, come down upon 
the land and mountains of Israel, “from thy place out of the north parts” 
(Ez. 38 : 15; 39: 2), an enormous army, “like a cloud to cover the 
land.” Ez. 38: 9, 16. Then God shall fight for Israel against this 
host as He didin times past. 2 Kings 7:1, etc.; 19 : 35, 36 ; 2 Chron. 
31: 21; Is. 37: 36, 37. “Every man’s sword shall be against his 
brother.” Ez. 38 : 21; Zech. 14: 12, 13. This indicates disagree- 
ment between the different national parts composing the vast host, and 
fighting against each other. As, naturally, the most modern appli- 
ances will be used the slaughter will be very great. 

18. And there were voices, and thunders, and 
lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such 
as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty 
an earthquake, and so great. 

14. At the same time that this army of Gog is in the mountains 
of Israel, a terrible earthquake shall come upon the earth. Read care- 
fully and compare, Ez. 38 : 18-20; Rev. 6 : 12; 8: 5; 11: 13, 19. 
We have spoken of this as a great upheaval of society, and will com- 
ment more fully upon it under The Fall of Babylon, chapter 18. But 
it is probable that a physical earthquake, very violent, shall also occur 
as the result of .Messiah’s presence returned to earth. Every living 
thing “shall shake at my presence.” Ez. 38: 20. “His feet shall 


67 


stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives.” “And the Mount of 
Olives shall cleave in the midst.” “And there shall be a very great 
valley.” “And ye shall flee * * * as ye fled from before the 
earthquake in the days of Uzziah.” Zech. 14 : 4, 5. 

10. And the great city was divided into three 
parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great 
Bahylon came in reineniheranee before God, to give 
unto her the cnp of the wine of the fierceness of his 
wrath. 

20. Ami every island tied away, and the moun- 
tains were not found. 

15. “The great city” means Babylon (Rev. 14: 8; 17: 18), or 
worldly society. The “three parts” are the good, bad and indifferent. 
“And the cities of the nations fell,” relates to the destruction which 
the depraved masses will visit upon wealth. See chapters 17 and 18. 

21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of 
heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and 
men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail ; 
for the plague thereof was exceedingy great. 

16. This “hail” fell especially upon the vast host of Gog at the 

battle of Armageddon. “I will rain upon him, and upon his bands 
* * * great hailstones, fire and brimstone.” Ez. 38 : 22. But at 

the same time destruction is going on elsewhere. “I will send a fire on 
Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles.” Ez. 39: 6. 
Are the last the British isles? The slaughter of the host at Armaged- 
don will be so great that but a sixth part shall be left of the nation of 
Gog. Ez. 39 : 2. All the rest shall fall upon the mountains of Israel. 
Here the vast host shall be buried, fertilizer for the fields of Israel. 
“And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them.” 
Ez. 39: 12. What a host! And even after that, shall men be given 
continual employment searching for and burying their bones. Ez. 39 : 
i3“ l6 . 

17. The fowls of heaven and the beasts of the earth are called 
upon to feast upon these slain, and help cleanse the land. Ez. 39 : 17- 
20; Rev. 19 : 17, 18. The beast, here nationalized in Russia, and the 
false propet, identified in Turkey, are cast alive into the lake of fire. 
Rev. 19 : 20. They shall suffer at Armageddon while yet in life, a hell 
of fire and brimstone (Ez. 38 : 22), and there the body shall be 
destroyed, and the beast slain (Dan. 7 : 11, 26). There ends, by God’s 
righteous judgement, the beast and false prophet, which have wrought 
such havoc with our race. 


68 


CHAPTER XVII. 

BABYLON. 

[For comments on the beast see chapter 13.] 

1. And there came one of the seven angels which 
had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto 
me, Come hither: I will show unto thee the judgment 
of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters : 

2 . With whom the kings of the earth have com- 
mitted fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth 
have been made drunk with the wine of her fornica- 
tion. 

3. So he carried me away in the spirit into the 
wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet 
coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having 
seven heads and ten horns. 

4. And the woman was arrayed in purple and 
scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious 
stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand 
full of abominations and tiltliiness of her fornication: 

5. And upon her forehead was a name written* 
Mystery, Babylon the threat, The Mother of Harlots 
and Abominations of the Earth. 

0. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood 
of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of 
Jesus: and when I saw her, 1 wondered with great 
admiration. 

7 . And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst 
thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the 
woman, and of the' beast that carrietli her, which hath 
the seven heads and ten horns. 

8. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not: and 
shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into per- 
dition : and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder* 
whose names were not written in the book of life from 
the foundation of the world, when they behold the 
beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 

9. And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The 
seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman 
sitteth. 

10. Ami there are seven kings: live are fallen* 
and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he 
cometh, he must continue a short space. 

11. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is 
the eighth, and is 01 the seven, and goeth into perdi- 
tion. 


6 9 


12. And the ten horns which tlion sawest are ten 
kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; hnt 
receive power as kings one hour with the heast. 

13. These have one mind, and shall give their 
power and strength unto the heast. 

14. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the 
Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, 
and King of kings: and they that are with him are 
called, and chosen, and faithful. 

15. And he saitli unto me, The waters which tlion 
sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and mul- 
titudes, and nations, and tongues. 

10. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon 
the heast, these shall liatf the ( wliore, and shall make 
her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and 
burn her with fire. 

17. For Ood hath put in their hearts to fulfill His 
will, and to agree, ami give their kingdom unto the 
heast, until the words of Ood shall he fulfilled. 

18. And the woman which thou sawest is that 
great city, which reignetli over the kings of the earth. 

1 . The woman here presented represents worldly society. She 
is supported and upheld by the beast. She is called Babylon, because 
that greatest of the cities on earth in any age, by reason of its wealth, 
culture and pleasure became pre-eminently the type of worldly society. 
She is called both a city and a woman. The city is where society lives, 
and woman is the queen of society. Take her away and the whole 
fabric falls to pieces. About her revolve all the interests of home, and 
the social circle. The pleasures of the world, of the beast, and false 
prophet, have woman for their center. Unlawful speculation, rascality 
of every description, every vice of gain, often murder, and most other 
crimes, has a woman to be served or unlawfully courted. Most men 
work but to gain the means of a livelihood and social intercourse. In 
this struggle they do not hesitate to sin to gain the desired end, which 
in itself may be the greatest sin of all. The woman of the world reigns 
queen in modern crime. Upon her are lavished all the wealth ; into 
her lap is poured all the delicacies man can procure, right or wrong. 
She is the mistress of his strength, his wealth, his thought, the object 
of his passion and lust. For her he sells his soul and fills her with all 
his abominations. 

2. This woman of the world’s society rides the animal nature — 
beastly man, v. 3. She is arrayed in “purple and scarlet color, and 
decked with gold and precious stones and pearls,” v. 4. The beast 
seeks always to clothe her gorgeously. But she is full of abominations 
and filthiness. Worldly society breeds harlots, and those who worship 
not God, but wealth and worldliness, which thing is idolatry and 
spiritual whoredom, v. 5. It is society which upholds the things of 
this life, luxury, pleasure, political power, money, doctrines of. the 


70 


world, that has ever instigated the persecutions of Christians, and 
given us “martyrs of Jesus,” v. 6. Yet the beauty, education, wit 
and refinement of the woman of society, surrounded by what the beast 
has secured of all that is possible of luxury, comfort and ease, calls 
forth our admiration. 

3. Society sits upon the seven evil principles of the beast, v. 9. 
By them she rules over the kings and great ones of the earth, v. 18. 
She “sitteth upon many waters” (v. 1 and 15), or she is found among 
all .peoples, nations and tongues. That is, she is to be found in all the 
nations. Whence came these multitudes, these hosts of people?' 
Society has bred them. They are due to our social system. Adam 
and Eve lived a single blessed pair in Eden. But sin gave birth to 
children from their loins, and they multiplied. The animal had 
tempted the woman, and she, with her husband, took of the forbidden 
thing (Gen. 3: 6), and by the taking fell, through the one act, from 
the plane of immortal man, to the plane of mortal beast. By the fall 
of Adam and Eve we have become to-day a thousand million souls. 

4. But in the time of the ten horns, or the nations of to-day (see 
“The. Beast,” comments 9 and 10, chapter 13), society shall be de- 
stroyed. The social order of things as it as present exists shall be 
destroyed. A horn in the Bible represents power. The ten horns 
represent what are to-day spoken of as the “great powers” of the old 
world, covering the territory of the former Roman Empire — Great 
Britain, Russia, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Egypt 
and Arabia. The other portions of the old Roman dominion are under 
governments allied to these. The northern portion of Africa is 
Arabian. Turkey, Egypt and Arabia are the three horns uprooted and 
supplanted by Mohammed. These ten kingdoms (v. 12) have now 
received power with the beast, and at present sustain society. “These 
have one mind” (v. 13), one sentiment, or social order of things prevails 
among them all. This social order is sustained by the ten, and in such 
supporting power the “ten” has a social significance in addition to the 
national distinction. The woman Society represents the wealth, ease 
and capital which sits upon the beast and rides. While the ten horns 
represent the energy, by whose efforts society is sustained and sup- 
ported, and made rich, in other words, “Labor.” Now these ten horns 
Labor shall hate the woman, Society (v. 16). And this is what Labor 
is learning very fast to do. The rich, the society and capital of our 
day, are rapidly gaining the hatred of the laboring classes. Labor 
already largely rules the beast, and is soon to have the kingdom for 
one hour — a short time. The spirit of labor will rule. Comment 6, 
chapter 9. 

5. The ten horns are the ten digits or fingers of the beast — the 
kings of labor. In John’s time they had not as yet received any king- 
dom. Formerly labor occupied a servile position. Work was the 
drudgery of slaves. But to-day labor is being lifted up and approaches 
the short time of its rule. Work is the monarch of the western world 
to-day, and high and low alike obey him. He is not one, but ten. 
Ten hours of labor rule mankind. The decimal system rules finance. 
Labor is one mind and gathered into unions seeks its own selfish ends. 


7i 


for it gives its power and strength unto the beast — the animal. Whether 
king or president presides over the affairs of government to-day, the 
real dictators and rulers are the people. To-day no ruler would dare 
to long disregard the pronounced wi§hes of the masses. This is in 
direct contrast to ancient times when the monarch was supreme, and 
all his subjects were slaves, whatever their title. The ten nations of 
to-day are ten kingdoms of the people. And in each and every one of 
these nations the law of selfishness has developed a bitter feud between 
Tabor and Capital, between the masses and society. On the one side 
is wealth, position, possession, individual power and pleasure; on the 
other side is an inordinate desire to seize upon these same things, and 
jealousy, envy and hatred for those who have them. Capital is com- 
bined in trusts and great corporate monopolies, to squeeze out of labor 
all the wealth it can for its own augmentation, and to oppress and 
keep labor down, where it is helpless to successfully cope with capital 
in the securing of its rights. Tabor is combined in Unions to force 
out of capital more of that filthy lucre which its selfishness craves, and 
which each individual member thereof secretly desires, that he may 
change places from the drudgery of labor into the ease of capital and 
distinction and pleasure of society. Each combination of labor that 
is downed by combined society and government is but an incentive, 
and help to future stronger and more dangerous combinations of the 
masses. And each unsuccessful struggle but deepens the hatred which 
labor has come to have for law and order, and the social conditions which 
now prevail ; and makes labor only the more determined and set in its 
purpose to finally accomplish its end. The anarchist, the socialist and 
the materialist grow strong in the land, and these three frogs shall 
finally triumph, and there shall be an upheaval of .society — an earth- 
quake — such as was not before since man was upon the surface of the 
earth. Social conditions that now exist shall be destroyed. Wealth, 
possessions, property shall be consumed by fire. Riot shall strip society 
and make her naked, v. 16. Babylon is fallen. Is. 21 : 9 ; Jer. 51:8; 
Rev. 14: 8. Thrown down with violence. Rev. 18: 21. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

1. And after these things I saw another angel 
come down from heaven, having great power; and the 
earth was lightened with his glory. 

2 . And he cried mightily with a strong voice, say- 
ing, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is be- 
come the habitation of devils, and the hold of every 
foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful 
bird. 

3 . For all nations have drunk of the wine of the 
wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth 
have' committed fornication with her, ami the mer- 
chants Of the earth are waxed rich through the abun- 
dance of her delicacies. 


72 


4. And I heard another voice from heaven, say- 
ing, come out of her, my people, that ye be not par- 
takers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her 
plagues. 

1. In this chapter is further pictured the fall of Babylon, the de- 
struction of the present social conditions. The first three verses are a 
declaration of the evil condition and sin into which society has fallen. 
The fourth verse calls all the people of God to “come out of her.” 
Those who do not separate themselves from her must be partakers of 
her sin, and will receive the plagues which fall upon her. The resur- 
rection of the church follows, and they ascend to heaven before the 

plagues come (see Rev. n : 12, 13); but those plagues come imme- 
diately the Church is gone. 

5. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and 
God hath remembered her iniquities. 

6. Reward her even as she rewartled you, and 
double unto her double according to her works; in 
the cup which she hath tilled, fill to her double. 

2. The sins of society have reached to heaven. “God hath re- 
membered her iniquities.” He orders that the masses, the people, 
labor, shall “reward her even as she rewarded you.” With the same 
selfishness,” double unto unto her double according to her works.” 
Unrestrained any longer by the presence of Christian goodness, the 
poor and ignorant, and vicious masses shall vent their hatred upon the 
rich, and utterly destroy their property, and snuff out their social life. 

7 . How much she hath glorified herself, and lived 
deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for 
she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, 
and shall see 110 sorrow. 

8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, 
death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall he 
utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Ford God 
who judgeth her. 

3. Society has thought herself secure. She has believed in the 
strength and security of her money, and family name, and educational 
superiority, and said that her children should be secure, as the parents 
have been, and that the wealth and power should be perpetuated. 
Society has felt, I am queen, “and shall see no sorrow.” But, because 
of this very pride and haughtiness, and sense of power, which char- 
acterizes Society, the punishment shall come upon her, and pride shall 
be cast down. Is. 47 : 7-15. 

1). And the kings of the earth, who have com- 
mitted fornication and lived deliciously w ith her, shall 
bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see 
the smoke of her burning, 

10. Standing afar oft* for the fear of her torments, 
saying, Alas, alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty 
city! for in one hour is tliy judgment come. 


73 


4- “The kings of the earth,” the merchants (v. n), the rich and 
great of this world, are those who have “lived deliciously with” society. 
They are the ones who “shall bewail her, and lament for her, when 
they shall see the smoke of her burning.” They are the losers ; they 
see all theii own possessions swept away. They stand afar off, how- 
ever. “for the fear of her torment.” Personal injury is feared at the 
hands of the infuriated mob, and they dare not attempt to save any- 
thing. 

11. Amt the merchants of the earth shall weep 
and mourn over her; for no man buy eth their merchan- 
dise any more: 

12. The merchandise of gold, land silver, and 
precious stones, ami of pearls, and line linen, and 
purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and 
all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of 
most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and mar- 
ble, 

13. And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, 
and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and line flour, 
and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and 
chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 

5. The merchants weep for their business is gone. The whole 
system of buying and selling is abolished on earth, by this overturn of 
the present order of things. Now comes the day of Judge Bellamy’s 
“Looking Backward,” when the race of men shall be provided with food 
and clothing by a different system altogether. When selfishness is 
cast out, and is no more the ruling principle on which business is car- 
ried on. “The souls of men.” This culmination of things in which 
the merchants grew rich in Babylon refers to saloons, and all other 
lines of business whereby the patron sells his soul in exchange of the 
merchant’s wares. 

14. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are 
departed from thee, and all things which were dainty 
and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt 
find them no more at all. 

15. The merchants of these things which were 
made rich by her, shall stand afar ofl*, for the fear of 
her torment, weeping and wailing, 

10. And saying, Alas, alas! that great city, that 
was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and 
decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 

6. Those things for which the worldly soul lusted are departed, 
destroyed, and shall be for men no more, for there is an end of all the 
present supplies and conditions of life on earth. “The merchants of 
these things,” who were made rich thereby are naturally in de- 
spair. There is not, for them, the hope held out to one who fails in 
business now, that he may start again and make his fortune once more, 
for all the opportunities of such a career are swept away. Only de- 
spair seems left to them and their only cry is, “Alas, Alas !” 


74 


17. For in one hour so great riches is come to 
nought. And every ship-master, and all the company 
in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade hy sea, 
stood afar oft*, 

18. And cried when they saw the smoke of her 
burning, saying, What city is* like unto this great city! 

10. And they east dust on their heads, and cried, 
weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas! that great 
city, wherein were made rich all that hail ships in the 
sea hy reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she 
made desolate. 

7. And now it takes up the wail of those who have transported 
all these dainty and rich things, and have brought them in their ships 
to the great cities where Society lived. Their business is gone with 
the business of the merchants. It is evident that different kinds of 
things are to be required for the race in future. The bodies of the 
Millennium will not require the things which have been esteemed in 
the present age’. 

20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy 
apostles and prophets: for God hath avenged you on 
her. 

21. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a 
great mill-stone, and cast it into the sea saying, Thus 
with violence shall that great city Babylon* he thrown 
down, and shall be found no more at all. 

8. Amidst all this regret and mourning there are those who re- 
joice. Earth mourns, and all whose treasures were laid up in Babylon, 
“where moth and rust doth corrupt and thieves break through and 
steal” (Matt. 6 : 19), were “weeping and wailing.” But heaven rejoices 
and the holy apostles and prophets. For they see the vengeance of 
God upon the wicked and vile, and the blotting out from earth all that 
marred and disfigured it, and the cleansing from sin, which shall pre- 
pare for the existence of better and nobler things. And to them it is 
a joy to know that Babylon shall be destroyed with violence and “be 
thrown down,” and that such an order of things “shall be found no 
more at all.” 

22. Anil the voice of harpers, and musicians, and 
of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at 
all in thee; ami no craftsman, of whatever craft he be, 
shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a 
mill-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 

23. And the light of a candle shall shine no more 
at all in thee ; and the voice of the bridegroom and of 
the bride shall be heard 110 more at all in thee : for 
thy merchants w ere the great men of the earth ; for by 
thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 

24. And in her was found the blood of prophets, 
and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the 
earth. 


75 


9- The sound of earthly revelry, pleasure and dissipation shall 
never more be heard. The present avocations of life, the trades and 
manufactories, as we know them, shall cease. Marriage shall be done 
away with, “for in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in 
marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” Matt. 22 : 30. A 
different social order of things exists in the Millennium age on earth, 
one like that in heaven. By the witcheries of Society all the nations 
have been deceived, and in her is found the blood of the saints and “all 
that were slain upon the earth.” Yea, rejoice that worldly society is to 
be wiped out, and that very soon. 


CHAPTER XIX 

1. The scenes of this chapter are principally in heaven. After 
the church has been called out of fallen Babylon the marriage of the 
Eamb to his bride, as herein recorded, takes place. But this marriage, 
and the incidents here recorded, take place before the terrible day of 
God is finished on earth ; since in the last part of this chapter, 
Christ, with the saints (v. 8), as the armies of heaven (v. 14), come to 
the battle of Armageddon (v. 17-21), already commented upon in chap- 
ter 16. The heavenly incident of the marriage then must take place 
during the overthrow of human society. 

1. And after these things I heard a great voice of 
much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia: Salvation, 
and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Ford our 
God: 

2 . For true and righteous are His judgments: 
for he hath judged the great wliore, which did cor- 
rupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged 
the blood of his servants at her hand. 

3. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke 
rose up for ever and ever. 

4. And the tour and twenty eiders and the four 
beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the 
throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 

2. These verses properly belong to the scenes related in chapter 
18. “After these things.” After the punishment or judgment of the 
world that now is. After the great and terrible upheaval and over- 
throw of society. Then is heard the voice of much people praising 
God. They, with the clear understanding of a place in heaven, pro- 
nounce those judgments upon the world’s woman, righteous. 

5. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, 
Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear 
him, both small and great. 

3. A voice from the throne is like, “and God said,” of the time 
of Creation. It was the beginning of a new order of things, the crea- 


76 


tion of a new day ; a day of praise. It heralds the going forth of a new 
spirit into the earth. A new king, and a new kingdom, are to be set 
up on this planet. This new King is Christ Jesus, the Messiah, and 
He is to be supported by the armies of heaven. For the saints come 
with Him. 

0. And I heard as it were the voice of a great 
multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the 
voice of mighty thuhderings, saying, Alleluia: for the 
Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 

4. “The Lord God omnipotent reigneth” now in earth as in 
heaven ; and in the person of his Son shall dwell with men on the 
earth. 

7 . Let us he glad and rejoice, and give honor to 
him : for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his 
w ife hath made herself ready. 

8. And to her was granted that she should he ar- 
rayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen 
is the righteousness of saints. 

5. The Son is to be married before entering upon His mission of 
King of the earth. Indeed, “let us be glad and rejoice,” for it is a 
very happy occasion, “and His wife hath made herself ready.” This 
wife is the Church. Her garments are the righteousness of saints. 
Each saint appears clothed in his right mind, and bright with a holy 
and beautiful character. 

9. And he saitli unto me, Write, Blessed are they 
which are called unto the marriage supper of the 
Lamb. And he saitli unto me, These are the true say- 
ings of God. 

6. The call is to you, “And the Spirit and the bride say, 
Come.” Rev. 22 : 17. 

10. Ami I fell at his feet to worship him. And he 
said unto me, See thou do it not: 1 am thy fellow-ser- 
vant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of 
Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the 
spirit of prophecy. 

7. John, amazed at what the angel had shown him, looked upon 
him as marvelous, and fell at his feet to worship him. This angel was 
one of those who had had one of the vials of the seven last plagues. 
Rev. 17: 1. He declares himself to be “thy fellow servant, and of thy 
brethren that have the testimony of Jesus.” We are to “worship God” 
and Him only.” 

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” The things 
that Jesus testified to while on efirth held this spirit of prophecy. 
That spirit of prophecy, or teaching, which impels you and me to un- 
cover the events prophesied in this book of Revelation, or to witness, 
in any manner for Jesus, is the testimony of Jesus, which we must all 
have if we may hope to be present at the marriage of the Eamb. 


77 


11. Anil I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white 
horse ; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful 
and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and 
make war. 

12 . His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his 
head were many crowns; anti he had a name written, 
that no man knew, but he himself. 

13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in 
blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 

8. This is Jesus coming to judge the world, and is the same occa- 
sion as is spoken of in Rev. 14 : 14-20. 

14. And the armies which were in heaven fol- 
lowed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, 
white and clean. 

9. The armies of heaven — the saints — returning to earth with 
Christ to rule with him a thousand years — during the Millennium. 
Rev. 20 : 4, 6. 

15. And out of his mouth goetli a sharp sword, 
that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall 
rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the 
wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty 
God. 

16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh 
a name written, King of kings and Ford of lords. 

10. This relates to Messiah come to judgment. Messiah a King 
of kings, King over the kings of the earth. No more a humble down- 
trodden sacrificial Lamb, but the Lamb become the Lion of Judah. 
Rev. 5 : 5. His rule is that of a ‘'rod of iron,” and His saints shall 
also so rule. Rev. 2 : 27. 

Republics and governments by the people are the fashion and 
tendency of this present age. Even in those nations which are ruled 
by monarchs, the kings are such only in name. The actual authority 
is vested in the people, and by them delegated to their legislators and 
ministers. But in the millennium age the government will be abso- 
lute. No tyrant in the world’s past ages ever devised a method by 
which his will should be so perfectly executed as that by which the 
will of Messiah shall be done. To the republican thought of today i 4 - 
seems contradictory, to add, that such a government shall be found 
perfect and satisfactory, beyond all conception of this present time. 

With imperfect human kings and later, with imperfect sovereign 
citizens, the governments of earth have been equally imperfect and un- 
satisfactory. But with the perfect Messiah, Son of God, as King of the 
Millennium, and the saints reigning under Him, the government of 
earth will be very different. The rulers of the Millennium shall see 
into the hearts of men. There is no deceiving them, and their judg- 
ments and decisions shall be absolute and certain and just. Their ap- 
pointments shall be fit and all their ways shall be ordered with divine 


78 


wisdom. Hence their government will commend itself to all their sub- 
jects. All their acts will be so evidently just the right ones, that 
everyone among the nations will not only be satisfied, but gratified as 
well. Every incentive being to righteousness, and no' temptation to 
evil presented to mankind, there will be of necessity, and not by choice, 
that Eden condition which the nations enjoy in the Millennium. 

17. And 1 saw an angel standing in the sun: and 
lie cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that 
fly in the midst of heaven, Come, and gather your- 
selves together unto the supper of the great God; 

18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the 
flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and 
the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and 
the flesh of all men, hoth free and hond, both small 
and great. 

10. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the 
earth, anil tlieir armies, gathered together to make 
war against him that sat on the horse, and against 
his army. 

20. And the beast was taken, and with him the 
false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with 
which he deceived them that had received the mark 
of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. 
These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning 
with brimstone. 

21. And the remnant w ere slain with the sw ord 
of bins that sat upon the horse, which sword pro- 
ceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled 
w ith their flesh. 

11. See comments, chapter 16, The Battle of Amageddon. 


CHAPTER XX. 

1 . And I saw an angel come down from heaven, 
having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain 
in his hand. 

2. Ami he laid hold on the dragon, that old ser- 
pent, which is the Devil, and Natan, and bound him a 
thousand years, 

3. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut 
him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should de- 
ceive the nations no more, till the thousand years 
should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a 
little season. 


79 


1. These verses are closely connected with the last chapter. 
Satan bound a thousand years and cast into the bottomless pit, shows 
that the spirit of evil is to be formless, unembodied, or not manifested, 
for that time. Satan bound shows that the centrifugal force that 
animates him is a slave, and without rule or authority. “After that he 
must be loosed a little season.” This expression, in the light of the 
one Universal Law of God, is one full of mighty meaning. By that 
law every new existence begins under the control of the centrifugal — 
that which carries away from the center. So commenced in the 
garden of Eden the great season of Transformation — the age in which 
we now live. For Satan to be loosed again, for the centrifugal to have 
sovereignty again, shows that another, age, another and new existence 
is to follow the Millennium period of this chapter, during which Satan 
is bound. Each existence, by the law, ends under the sovereignty of 
the Holy Spirit, the centripetal power. Thus God finished creation 
on the seventh day and rested. Gen. 2 ? 1-3. And so the seventh day, 
the Millennium of Rest, when the centrifugal Satan is bound, lies just 
before us ; but, after it, Satan is again to be loosed, and a new exist- 
ence — “a new heaven and a new earth” is to succeed to this present 
one. See chapter 21. 

4 . And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and 
judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of 
them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and 
for the word of God, and which had not worshipped 
the beast, neither his image, neither had received his 
mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and 
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

5 . But the«i*est of the dead lived not again until 
the thousand years were finished. This is the first re- 
surrection. 

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the 
first resurrection: 011 such the second death hath no 
power, hut they shall he priests of God and of Christ, 
and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

2. Here is a glimpse of the Millennium, the thousand years of 
peace on earth, the Sabbath of the world that now is, the time soon to 
dawn upon us. “£nd I saw thrones and they sat upon them.” The 
“they” refers, undoubtedly, to the saints, the armies that came with 
Messiah out of heaven. Chapter 19: 8, 14. These are to judge and 
rule the earth as kings and priests, with Messiah King of kings 
over them. Dan. 7 : 22. Then appear the souls of those beheaded 
who had not worshiped the beast. These are probably the 144,000 
who were slain in the midst of the “terrible times.” “They lived 

' and reigned with Christ a thousand years,” also. “This is the first 
resurrection.” 

The “Millennial Dawn” states that the first of this verse — “But 
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were 
finished” — is not in the older manuscripts. If this is true, then woe 


8o 


to him who inserted it, for to him shall be added the plagues written' 
in this Revelation. Chapter 22: 18. If the words should be here 
I do not know what they mean, since all are dead who appear before 
God in the judgment at the end of the thousand years. That those 
who were followers of the beast, and are slain in that terrible day of 
the Lord remain dead during the Millennium is doubtless true, but 
neither do they live when the thousand years are ended. They never 
live again, having been cast into the lake of fire, which is the second 1 
death. But these saints, of both classes, who are of the first resurrec- 
tion, are blessed, for “on such the second death hath no power.”' 
They are like asbestos, of the wrong material to be burned. The 
Holy Spirit, which is their life, is untouchable of fire. 

7. Anti when the thousand years are! expired, Sa- 
tan shall he loosed out of his prison, 

8. And shall go out to deceive the nations which 
are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, 
to gather them together to battle: the number of 
whom is as the sand of the sea. 

9. And they went up 011 the breadth of the earth y 
and compassed'the camp of the saints about, and the 
beloved city: and fire came down from God out of 
heaven, and devoured them. 

3. Now after the thousand years, at the close of the Millennium,, 
the centrifugal shall be again loosed, and the spirit of evil shall be 
made use of to bring forth a new existence. Gog &nd Magog— the 
nations of earth- -have, under the peaceful and favorable conditions of 
the Millennium, increased to a great number, “as the sands of 
the sea.” Satan deceives these as he did Adam, and leads them 
against the saints and the beloved city. “And fire came down 
out of heaven and devoured them.” This earth race had lived happy, 
joyous lives. But they were not able to resist Satan. They had not 
been prepared for any higher life than the earth life. So, having en- 
joyed that for a thousand years, and become fairly satiated with earth’s 
joy, they are blotted out without torture or misery. They pass away 
with the planet, for which alone they were fitted, for this is the end 
of our planet earth. See v. 11. 

10. And the devil that deceived them was cast 
into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast 
and the false prophet are, and shall he tormented day 
and night for ever and ever. 

4. Satan, the king of the centrifugal, has served his final pur- 
pose, God has used him to start the last and crowning event, a new 
creation, hence he is now cast into the lake of fire and brimstone — ban- 
ished from existence. 

11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that 
sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven 
lied away; and there was found noplace for them. 


8i 


5. The final judgment of the present existence has come. This 
is beyond the Millennium and many years hence. The earth and the 
heaven we know flee away and no place is found for them. Peter says 
they shall be burned up. 2 Pet. 3: 7-12. 

12 . And I saw the dead, small and great, stand be- 
fore God; and the hooks were opened: and another 
hook was opened, which is the hook of life: and the 
dead were judged out of those things which were writ- 
ten in the hooks, according to their w orks. 

13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in 
it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which 
were in them: and they were judged every man ac- 
cording to their works. 

6. Only dead beings appear in this final judgment. The saints, 
who, alter the first resurrection, are “forever with the Lord,” and have 
eternal life, have no part in this scene. For these shall not come into 
judgment but have passed from death unto life. John 5 : 24. All the 
dead remaining in earth, from the sea, and the grave — here called hell 
— are delivered up to this judgment. This is, m a sense, a second re- 
surrection. But it is not a resurrection unto life, but unto condemna- 
tion. “And they were judged every man according to their works.” 
This is the judgment of works. 

THE SECOND DEATH. 

14. And death and hell w ere cast into the lake of 
tire. This is the second death. 

15. And whosoever was not found written in the 
hook of life was cast into the lake of tire. 

7. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was 
cast into the lake of fire.” All who are not marked with life went to 
the second death. In other words, “Death and hell were cast into the 
lake of fire.” This is the “second death.” This is the complete dissolu- 
tion of being ; the extinction of form ; the return of the waters 
to the, “without form and void,” which was in the beginning. 
Gen. 1 : 2. The fire burns up and totally destroys the form, while the 
substance continues. God’s eternal spirit, which is the substance of 
everything, is not destroyed, but only released from the uncouth, de- 
filed, flawed and evil form. Into this lake of fire is cast all the broken 
and imperfect castings of creation, as in a foundry the improper cast- 
ings are cast into the blast furnace to be melted over and made fit to 
run into a new mold. All things that are evil, all things that are im- 
pure, all black and dark spots in heaven or earth, all blemishes and 
wrongs in this lake of fire are destroyed, annihilated, wiped out. ,Only 
the molten spirit, essential and everlasting substance remains at the 
bottom of this lake, purified and ready to be molded by God into new 
creations. See Rev. 21 : 8. 


82 


CHAPTER XXI. 

1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for 
the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; 
and there was no more sea. 

1. “A new heaven and a new earth,” has, doubtless, a double 
meaning. First, it means that thought which comes most naturally 
to us. That the physical heaven and earth, which we perceive with 
our sense, is to pass away, for the redeemed at least. In this sense it 
may signify the destruction of our planet earth by fire, and the inhab- 
iting of a new planet in our system, by the redeemed. And I am im- 
pressed with the thought that the spirit, beginning its creative work in 
the sun, is passing its inner and essential forms outward towards the 
periphery of the solar system. This would fulfill the Eaw. In 
other words, man is making a tour of the planets. Having his 
origin in the middle planet, according to the law, he falls towards the 
sun, by reason of his centrifugal beginning, and lodges in earth. Here 
the race is divided. Those persisting in the centrifugal control, at the 
end of their existence here are borne to Venus, the next planet towards 
the sun. After remaining there awhile they are carried to Mercury, and 
ultimately wind up in the sun itself, a lake of fire. While those of 
our race who accept the centripetal authority are, after their Millen- 
nium here, taken to Jupiter, thence to Saturn, and Neptune, and ulti- 
mately into the heaven. Ever being carried to grander and more 
beautiful surroundings, and into holier and better conditions. 

Of one thing we are assured. The sins and evils of this present 
world shall not mar nor cloud the new earth. For this former earth 
‘‘shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” Is. 65 : 17 ; 66: 22. 

2, But this “new heaven and a new earth,” put in the singular 
number as it is, gives us another, a spiritual meaning. Heaven is the 
realm within us, where is the kingdom of God. Euke 17 : 21. Earth 
is the realm about us, and outside of ourselves ; the conditions and 
circumstances of our environment. In this sense, it means to us the 
establishment of a new and higher order of things than what we now 
know. And this meaning is undoubtedly to be fulfilled, whether the 
first is or not. In this sense, also, it is applicable to the Millennium 
times as well as that of the new existence 'which is to follow. The 
Millennium is the future to which we look forward. The age that 
succeeds it does not so much interest us just now. And, since the 
Millennium is the shadow and promise of that still better world to fol- 
low, what is true of that world is true, so far as we can now receive it, 
of the Millennium itself. In this and the next chapter, therefore, we 
shall see the blessings of the Millennium on our own planet, a renewed 
earth, a restored garden of Eden. 

2. And 1 John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 
coining down front God out of Heaven, prepared as a 
bride adorned for her husband. 


83 


3- The new Jerusalem is the glorious and holy society of the 
Millennium. A very different city from Babylon type of our present 
social conditions. 

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he 
will dwell with them, and they shall he his people, and 
God himself shall he with them, and he their God. 

4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their 
eyes; and there shall he no more death, neither sor- 
row, nor crying, neither shall there he any more pain: 
for the former things are passed away. 

4. What a glorious condition of human society is this. Not up- 
held by the beast, but associated with God. As Adam in Eden, so we 
in this new and better Eden, shall have God to dwell among us. 
“There shall be no more death,” may not be literally true of the Mil- 
lennium time, while so of the after earth, yet the condition of Adam is 
probably restored. Adam was deathless so long as he did not eat of 
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Read a description of 
the conditions of this time in Isaiah 65 : 17-25. This does not imply 
absolute freedom from death, or from sin. But the society of Jerusalem 
shall not know sorrow, and crying, “neither shall there be any more 
pain : for the former things are passed away.” 

5. “The tabernacle of God is with men.” Doubtless this means 
the temple of God within you, for we are the temple of God if so be 
His spirit dwell in us. See 1 Cor. 3 : 9-17; 6: 19-20; 2 Cor. 6: 16-18; 
Eph. 2: 19-22; Heb. 3: 6; 1 Pet. 2: 2-9. This also signifies the 
restoration of the temple at Jerusalem, the capital of the world; and 
of the new Israel, during the Millennium. This temple is de- 
scribed in considerable detail in Ezekiel, chapters 40 to 44 inclusive. 

5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, 
I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: 
for these words are true and faithful. 

G. And he said unto me. It is done. I am Alpha 
and Omega, the beginning and the end. I w ill give 
unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water 
of life freely. 

7 . Me that overcometh shall inherit all things: 
and I will he his God, and he shall he my son. 

8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the 
ahomi nahle, and murderers, and whoremongers, and 
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their 
part in the lake which burnetii with lire and brim- 
stone: which is the second death. 

6. All things are to be made new in this new condition which 
God is preparing for us. He declares that “It is done,” which is an 
absolute assurance that “these words are true and faithful.” The 
promise of inheriting all these things is to him that overcometh. The 
true Church, as we saw in the beginning of this revelation, is the 


8 4 


overcomer. “But the fearful and unbelieving,” alas ! they go down 
to a part in the second death. 

THE NEW JERUSALEM. 

1). And there came unto me one of the seven 
angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last 
plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I 
will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 

10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great 
and high mountain, and shewed me that great city 7 
the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from 
God. 

11. Having the glory of God: and her light was 
like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper 
stone, clear as crystal; 

12. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve 
gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names writ- 
ten thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes 
of the children of Israel : 

13. On the east three gates; on the north three 
gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three 
gates. 

14. And the wall of the city had twelve founda- 
tions, and in them the names of* the twelve apostles of 
the Lamb. 

15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed 
to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the w all 
thereof. 

16. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length 
is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city 
with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length 
and the breath and the height of it are eqnal. 

17 . And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred 
and forty ami four cubits, according to the measure 
of a man, that is, of the angel. 

18. And the building of the wall of it was of 
jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear 
glass. 

10. And the foundations of the wall of the city 
were garnished with all manner of precious stones. 
The first foundation was jasper: the second, sapphire; 
the third, a chalcedony; the fourth an emerald; 

20. The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the 
seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl: the ninth, a 
topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a 
jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 

21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; 
every several gate was of one pearl : anil the street of 
the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 


85 


22 . And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord 
God Almighty and the Laml> are the temple of it. 

23 . And the city had no need of the sun, neither of 
the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did 
lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 

24 . And the nations of them which are saved 
shall w alk in the light of it : and the kings of the earth 
do bring their glory and honour into it. 

25 . And the gates of it shall not he shut at all by 
day : for there shall be no night there. 

26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of 
the nations into it. 

27 . And there shall in no wise enter into it any- 
thing that defiletli, neither whatsoever worketh 
abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are 
written in the Lamb’s hook of life. 

7. We have here a beautiful description of that pure and lovable 
society which is to take the place of corrupt and worldly Babylon. In 
this society there is no need of a temple of wood or stone (v. 22), for 
God and the Lamb are enshrined in the hearts of each member of this 
social order. But this spiritually described society had surroundings and 
environments corresponding to their own state, and in keeping there- 
with. This phrase of the new Jerusalem — the visible and outward, is 
more especially pictured in Ezekiel. 

8. Ezekiel describes, prophetically, the great capital city of the 

world ; the earthly seat of Christ the Prince. It occupies the northern 
one-fifth of the oblation, which is to be given by the nation of Israel. 
Ez. 45 ; 6. The city proper is square, with suburbs about its four 
sides. Market gardens lie beyond the suburbs, to the east and 
west to supply the city. Ez. 48: 15-18. To the south lies a 

large portion assigned to the priests, and in the midst stands the 
Sanctuary facing the city. Still south lies an equal area for 
the use of the Levites. To east and west of the city, and of the por- 
tions of the priests and Levites, the territory belongs to the Prince. 
All may be properly considered a part of the great capital. No such 
glorious appointments and broad dimensions have ever been the happy 
lot of any city that has yet been built in the world. This city has 
walls of jasper with twelve gates, each one named after a tribe of 
Israel, and each gate a single pearl. Ez. 48 : 30-35 ; Rev. 21 : 12, 13, 21. 
Its foundations were of twelve jewels, while the spiritual foundation of 
its people were the twelve apostles. The city and its street was pure 
gold, like unto clear glass, shining, v. 18, 21. What are Rome, and 
London, and Paris, and New York, compared with this coming capital 
of the Millennium? Beyond the conception of man, rich and glorious, 
shall be the city where Messiah shall dwell, King of kings, in that day 
when all the earth shall know her sabbaths. “And the nations of 
them which are saved shall walk in the light of it : and the kings of 
the earth do bring their honor and glory into it,’’ v. 24. To this city 
the kings of the earth shall pay tribute. From it all the great reforms 


86 


and the proclamations of the King of all the earth (Zech. # 14 : 9), shall 
emanate. All the great highways shall lead up to it. All the skill,, 
and wealth and love of earth shall shape her palaces, and make beauti- 
ful her gardens. The river of life has its fountain source in the palace 
of her king, and flows forth from the city eastward. “And the city 
had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it : for the 
glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof,” v. 23. 


CHAPTER XXII. 

THE TREE OF LIFE. 

1. And lie shewed ane a pure river of w ater of life, 
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of trod 
and of the Lamb. 

2 . In the midst of the street of it, and on either 
side of the river, was there the tree of life, which hare 
twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every 
month : and the leaves of the tree w ere for the healing 
of the nations. 

3. And there shall he no more curse: hut the 
throne of hod and the Lamb shall he in it: and his 
servants shall serve him : 

4. And they shall see his face; and his name shall 
he in their foreheads. 

5. Ami there shall he no night there; and they 
need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord 
God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever 
and ever. 

6. And he said unto me, These sayings are faith- 
ful ami true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets 
sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things 
which must shortly he done. 

7 . Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that 
keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this hook. 

8. And I John saw these things, and heard them. 
And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to wor- 
ship before the feet of the angel which shewed me 
these things. 

9. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not : for 
I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the 
prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this 
book : w orship God. 

10. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of 
the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 

11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and 
he which is filthy, let him be filthy, still^ and he that is 
righteous, let him be righteous still : and he that is 
holy, let him be holy still. 


37 


12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward 
is with me, to give every man according; as his work 
shall he. 

13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and 
the end, the first and the last. 

14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, 
that they may have right to the tree of life, and may 
enter in through the gates into the city. 

15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and 
whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and 
whosoever loveth ami maketh a lie. 

M5. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto 
you these things in the churches. I am the root and 
the offspring of David, and the bright and morning 
star. 

17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And 
let him that h caret h say, Come. And* let him that 
is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the 
water of life freely. 

18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the 
words of the prophecy of this hook, If any man shall 
add unto these things, God shall add unto him the 
plagues that are written in this hook: 

10. And if any man shall take away from the 
words of the hook of this prophecy, God * shall take 
away his part out of the hook of life, and out of the 
holy city, and from the things which are written in 
this hook. 

20. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely 
I come quickly : Amen. Even so, come, Ford Jesus. 

21. The grace of our Ford Jesus Christ he with 
you all. Amen. 

Read about the water of life in Ez. 47: 1-12; Zech. 14: 8 ; Joel 3: 1 8 ; 
John 4 : 10, 14; 7 : 37-39 ; Rev. 21 : 6. And, also, about the tree of 
life in Gen. 2 : 9 ; 3 : 22 ; Prov. 3 : 18 ; n : 30 ; Rev. 2 : 7. 

1. This water of life is the one thing to be desired as a posses* 
sion if we wish to live forever, and forever rejoice in the wonderful 
things God has made. This river of life is the crowning feature of 
the new Jerusalem, capital of the Millennium. But we do not have to 
wait even that short time to have this living water spring up a well 
of water within us. To have this living fountain within us is to be a 
tree of life. This water of life is the Holy Spirit. It flows forth from 
the central source — the throne of God — and gives vitality to every 
thing or being which surrounds that throne. This water fills the 
universe of living things, with throbbing breathing life. The Spirit 
flows forth from God towards the periphery, a mighty river animating 
all creation. 


88 


2. The trees of life are the living things in which the Spirit mani- 
fests itself. They grow upon the banks of the river, and live by drink- 
ing of its waters. Through their roots they suck up the liquid of life, 
and transforming it into sap send it throughout their being, adding 
growth, fruit and leaves. By this water, “clear as crystal,” they live, 
and without it they die. The supply must be kept up or they perish. 
And this is true on every plane, material, physical, astral, vegetable, 
animal, human, or spiritual. In what manner, or by what principle, 
do living things draw the water of life to themselves ? 

3. The trees of life grow on either side of the river. Both sides 
are necessary to their being, growth and fruitage — the male and the 
female. These twain stand opposite each other, and by this opposite- 
ness all living things exist. The centrifugal in opposition to the cen- 
tripetal created form and sustain it. By them the worlds, and all they 
contain, are upheld. As there could be no life without the spirit, water 
of life, there could be no living things without the male and female. 
This is the principle that draws the water of life into being. Not 
only are the male and female necessary for the propagation of their 
race, which is as the leaves which the trees cast off, and by which the 
nations are healed, and so continued whole ; but the vigorous continu- 
ation of the life of each being depends upon this dual relation. A 
fact hidden from man for ages, but now revealed through Christ. 
Day by day the vegetable grows, the animal thrives, man lives 
in this present life, and the regenerated ascend to God, by and 
because of the reciprocal action of the male and female. It is the 
tree of life on every plane. 2 Tim. 1 : 10; Eph. 3 : 5, 9 ; Matt. 19: 4 ; 
Mark. 10: 6, 7; 1 Cor. 6: 15-17; Eph. 5: 31. 

4. The male draws the centrifugal out of the river of life : the 
female, the centripetal ; and each becomes a reservoir of its kind. 
Both kinds being necessary for a continuation of life in each being, 
that being must be supplied by the opposite sex with its part. Thus 
the life of each sex is drawn out of the river of life by the action of 
the other, and by such mutual pouring in and out of themselves are 
living things perpetuated. Zech. 4: 2, 3; n-14; Rev. n: 4. The 
male and female each lives by means of the other. And this principle 
of life is in operation on every plane. Moreover the abundance of life 
and the fulness of the manifestation of being, corresponds to the 
volume of exchange between the sexes. For, until the reservoir is 
emptied, it cannot be supplied with more from the river of life. 

5. The tree of life yields her fruit every month, after the manner 
of the female, and it shall be for meat, v. 2, 14, 17 ; Ez. 47 : 12. By 
the loving association of the male and female, a mutual exchange of 
the spiritual forces, of which each is the , reservoir is made, and the 
fire of life is supplied with the needed fuel in each The more the 
fuel supplied the bigger and brighter will be the flame. The fire of 
life is manifestation of being, the doings, work, action and living of 
each creature. By the fire or combustion of being, life is expressed. 
To have this loving and spiritual commerce, one sex with the other, is 
to eat of the fruit of the tree of life. This fruit is the product of love , 
not passion , a?id imparts untold joy and glorious existence. 


89 


6. Passion is an attribute of selfishness. In its inception it is a 
self desire, and in its fulfillment a self gratification. Its fruit is a phy- 
sical contact. But love is wholly unselfish, seeks to give not get, to do 
good to the loved one, and its fruit is intellectual and spiritual com- 
munion. Passion is the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and 
evil. Love is the fruit of the tree of life. These trees stood next to 
each other in the midst of the garden of Eden — in the human form. 
•Gen. 2 : 9 ; 3 : 2, 3 ; Rev. 2:7. The eating of the one brought pos- 
sibly some pleasure, but surely physical death, and was forbidden to 
Adam. The fruit of the other perpetuates life and makes man live as 
long as he shall eat thereof. When Adam disobeyed God’s command, 
and partook of the animal passion, a flaming sword shut off the way to 
the tree of life (Gen. 3 : 22-24) that the race of man might noteat of it, 
and continue to live for ever in lust. To partake of the physical, or 
tree of knowledge of good and evil, is to be cut off from the spiritual, 
the tree of life. 

7. Jesus Christ was the second Adam. 1 Cor. 15 : 45-47. In 
Him the human race was again put on trial and gained a glorious vic- 
tory. Study how Christ differed from Adam. In what did He succeed 
where Adam failed ? What was His relationship with the opposite sex 
— woman ? What did that woman receive who touched the hem of 
His garment? What significance had the cure of such a disease? 
Matt. 9 : 20-22 ; Mark 5 : 25-34; Luke 8 : 43-48; Lev. 15 : 25-33. What 
did Mary give to Jesus when she anointed His head and feet? Matt. 
26: 6-13; Mark 14: 3-9; Luke 7: 36-50; Jno. 12: 3-8; n: 2. 
Women ministered unto Jesus of their substance. Luke 8: 1-3: 
Matt. 27 : 55, 56. It was to woman He first appeared after His resur- 
rection. Matt. 28: 1-10; Mark 16: 9; Jno. 20: n-18. Between 
Jesus and woman was the strongest of reciprocal affection. He received 
their kisses. But, with the holiest thoughts of your being, 
remember, this affection w T as love, not passion, and yielded for them 
and for Him, also, fruit of the tree of life. This is significantly sym- 
bolized in His interview with the woman of Samaria. He gave to her 
the living water, but not until He had first drawn her attention to her 
husbands and, through them, finally fixed her love upon Himself, as 
the true husband of her soul. Jno. 4 : 5-26. And this yielded fruit 
which was meat for Him, as well as for-her. Jno. 4 : 31-34. 

8. But it must be observed that while life and vigor on every 
plane is the result of the male and female mutually supplying it out of 
the river of life, such life is not everlasting and eternal, on any plane, 
lower in the scale than that of soul. The supply on each plane is for 
the life of that plane, and for expression under those conditions. 
These expressions and conditions are but prophecies of the higher and 
heavenly ones, which await the soul in the home of the blessed. There 
is an everlasting and eternal life, and there are trees of life, that never 
fade nor pass away. This eternal life is had only through Christ Jesus, 
the Son of God. It is eternal because it becomes a fountain within 
man’s own heart. The supply does not have to be sucked in from 
without, but “shall be in him a well of water springing up into ever- 
lasting life.” Jno. 4: 14. 


90 


9. In Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the way to the tree of life on 
the higher plane is opened to man — the plane of the regenerated, or 
heaven born. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jno. 14: 6. 
The way by which the beast is overcome, and spiritual desires take 
the place of animal desires. The truth, by which the false teachings 
of the worldly minded are dispelled, and the knowledge of God comes 
to possess the soul. For to know God is eternal life. Jno. 17: 3. 
And the life eternal is love , love to God and love to our neighbor. 
Christ is the embodiment of this rejection of self, and of love and sacri- 
fice for others. God is love and He cannot die. And whosoever is 
filled with the spirit of Love is filled with God, and he cannot die. 
Such a one is a tree of life having God and Christ within their own 
hearts, abiding in them; such must live forever. Jno. 14: 10, 17, 19, 
20, 23 ; 1 Jno. 2 : 24 ; Rev. 3 : 20. All other things may perish but 
“thy years shall not fail.” Heb. 1 : 12. 

10. On the plane of the regenerated, Jesus Christ is the husband 
and the church is the bride (Matt. 25: 1-13 ; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5 : 
22-33; Rev. 19: 7-9; 21 : 2, 9), and its members (1 Cor. 12 : 12-31 ; 6: 
15), both men and women, are, spiritually, female. To draw the cen- 
trifugal supply necessary for this divine life, .we must have intercourse 
with the Son of God. Nor can this be wholly of our own seeking. 
We may attract him by doing those things which please Him, and seek 
Him in affection and love, even as in human life the wife does the hus- 
band ; but He it is who gives us of Himself, and, in so doing, gives us 
eternal life. For His gift is immortality . They who continue to eat and 
drink of Christ (Jno. 6: 51-63), can never die, but live as long as life is. 

11. No man or woman is pleased with a mate who receives their 
caress and love coldly ; neither is Christ. That one who responds to 
the touch of Christ will be filled with the rapturous pleasure of His 
conscious presence. Now, no one need take alarm, because Christ 
must seek you. He has already come to the world to seek you. 
And is even now making love to you. He is a royal suitor, and has 
no peer. Don’t miss your chance, but give Him your heart quickly. 
It will not do to trifle with Him. He loves you very dearly. You are 
not worthy of him, still He asks you to be His wife. Give Him your 
heart. He is jealous. Give Him all your heart, or He will have none of 
it. The King of the Universe will not share it with another. Be His 
wife and you are a queen indeed. His wedding gift is eternal life, and ; 
joy unspeakable. 

12. Through Christ is discovered the long sought Eldorado, the 
fountain of perpetual youth. Each must discover it for himself. But" 
I have sought here to place a guide board, pointing you to the Holy 
One, the spiritual Adam, the Pearl of Great Price, from whence this 
fountain gushes forth. This Pearl of Great Price can only be bought 
with the sale of all your possessions. Matt. 13: 45, 46. When you 
desire the priceless gift of the Holy Spirit — water of life — more than; 
all else, and desire to have Jesus rule completely in your heart, then 
will the fountain of life burst forth in your heart, and not until then. 
But since its possession brings all else that is good, why cling to the 
perishable baubles and trinkets of the world’s care. 


9 1 


13. I must press upon your mind that only he who has repented Y 
that is, turned from the way of the natural, or fleshly man, can be 
saved. And that it is Jesus who saves, both from sin and death. His 
blood is the only thing that can wash your stain of sin away. And, it 
is to the saved, and to such alone, that it is given to eat of the im- 
mortal tree of life. For there is no other way to this tree of life, but 
through Christ Jesus. He alone can supply you with the water of 
eternal life. All others who, like Adam, attempt to eat ot its fruit, 
will find that they have plucked instead from the tree of the knowl- 
edge of good and evil. And what was thought to be love will be 
found to be passion; and instead of life there shall be death; the 
mushroom will prove to be a toadstool. In outward appearance the 
two fruits somewhat resemble each other, and only the experience of 
the regenerated can discern between them. Neither is the river of 
life a stagnant pool, but a flowing stream. Your love must flow out 
to every one about you of whatever sex, condition or attitude, in 
charity, kindly service, and self-sacrifice ; just as it did in Christ. You 
must be continually emptying to be filled. 

14. The human life of Jesus the Christ, is the “street” of the 
river of life, along which you must travel, and where your tree of life 
must be planted to receive the living waters. The rich or poor, high 
or low, weak or strong, may enter this way. For love is the one thing 
required, and all can yield this, if they will. This is the straight road 
to heaven. Too few are the feet that have found it, but it is the King’s 
highway, and royal in its appointments. It is paved with pure gold. 
Its guides are white winged angels. God lights it with His glory. 
And each one who travels it has the Son of God for his personal friend. 
In the midst of this street flow the waters of life, “And the Spirit and 
the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And who- 
soever will let him take the water of life freely,” v. 17. Jno. 3: 5-8 ; 
Luke 11 : 13. 


THE END, 


e 





93 


APPENDIX. 


ORDER OF COMING EVENTS. 


i. 

A. D. 1897. — The beginning of the end. The fall of the Turk- 
ish power in Palestine. See comment 10, chapter 13. Preparation 
for Israel’s return. See comments 12 and 14, chapter 12. 

References: Matt. 24: 1-28; Mark. 13: 1-23; Luke 21: 1-24; 
Dan. 2: 27-45; 7 : 1-8, 15-21 ; 8: 1-27; 11: 1-4,45; 12 : 6, 7; Rev. 6 : 
9-1-1; 1 1 : 2,3; chapters 12, 13, 17 ; 2 Thess. 2 : 1-17. 

II. 

“Immediately after * * * shall the sun be darkened, and the 

moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.” 
Matt. 24 : 29. See comment 6, chapter 8. “Immediately” — does it 
mean a few days or a few years? The events are especially spiritual,, 
although physical disturbances may be looked for. 

References: Mark. 13: 24,25; Luke 21 : 25,26; Acts 2: 19-21; 
Rev. 6: 12-14; 8: 12; Is. 13: 9-13; Ez. 32 : 7-10; Joel. 2: 10,29-31;. 
3: 14-16; Amos 5 : 18-20; 8: 9. 

III. 

After a period of three and one half years, in which the Church is 
inactive (Rev. n : 8-12), there shall appear “the sign of the Son of 
Man,” “the first resurrection,” and the ascension of the Church. God’s 
people are called out of Babylon. 

References : Matt. 24 : 30-31 ; Mark 13:26, 27 ; Luke 21 : 27, 28; 
Dan. 12: 2,3; 1 Cor. 15: 12-58; 1 Thess. 4: 15-17; Rev. 1: 7; 11:2-12; 
18:4; 20:6. 

IV. 

The resurrection is followed, in heaven , by the marriage of the 
Lamb. 

References : Rev. 19: 5*9'; 21 : 2 > 9; Matt. 22 : 2; 25: 1-13; 2 Cor. 
11:2; Eph. 5 : 32. 


94 


V. 

Ending A. D. 1.927. — The Fall of Babylon. See comments on 
chapters 17 and 18. The very great earthquake. The fall of society as 
now constituted. See comment 6 of chapter 6. Also see Rev. 
6: 12, 15-17; 11 : 13, 14; Dan. 12: 1; Matt. 24: 38-41; Luke 
21 : 34-36. The battle of Armageddon, and destruction of the beast 
and false prophet. The great hail. See comments n, 13, 16 and 17 
of chapter 16. 

References: Rev. 8 : 7 ; 16:12-16; 19: 11-21; Ezekiel, chapters 
38 and 39 ; Dan. 12: 1, 11; Zech. 14: 12, 13; Is. 29: 6; 30: 30; 
65: 15-19. 

VI. 

The coming of the Son of Man — Messiah, and King of the earth. 
References : Matt. 24: 44; Mark 13: 35. 

The seventh seal opened. Rev. 8 : 1-5. The sounding of the 
seventh trumpet. Rev. 11: 15-18. The seventh plague poured out. 
Rev. 16 : 17-21. 

VII. 

A. D. 1972. — The beginning of the Millennium. 

References : Dan. 12: 12, 13; Zech. 14: 16-21; Rev. 20:4; 
21 : 1-27 ; 22:1, etc. 
















































































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